Local News

Hi Everyone,

Well, another spring and summer has gone by, but for most of us the days just ahead are the perfect time of year with the hunting and fishing seasons getting into full swing. I hope that everyone had a fun and safe summer, there are so many things to enjoy in the outdoors.

As most of you already know, our chapter has had our annual board of directors elections on June 29, 2011, and I feel very proud and fortunate to have been elected as the new chapter president. I just hope that I can fulfill this position as well as those before me have.

We are going to have some new, but I think very exciting, things happening this next year. As most everyone knows or has heard, we will be relocating our fundraiser to the Grand Traverse Resort in Traverse City on March 2 and 3, 2012. We believe this can open some new doors and opportunities for all of us which in turn benefits everyone. As always, the only way we can make things work is by working together.

I wish everyone a safe and very successful hunting season. Remember it is not always about the trophy that you bring home but the experiences that we get to enjoy by living in such great countries while meeting new and old friends enjoying the same things our fathers and grandfathers did. And most important of all is to make sure our future generations will have the same opportunities.

Thank you very much. Shoot straight and good luck.

Allen E. Krey, President, NEMISCI

GIRLS HUNT TOO
By
Lauren Blankenship and Mackenzie Wilmot

Boys!  Hunting this and hunting that.  Big game hunting video games from Cabella’s, the Outdoor Channel, deer calls, rattling antlers and camo hunting gear!  One would think that only boys ever hunt!  What a mistake!  After all, girls hunt too!

In late October, we hunted together at Jack Pine Safari.  Some of  the boy cousins were there as well but only to observe how it’s suppose to be done!  Big bucks on the ground -  put there by two demure teenage girls – ballerinas and cheerleaders!

We arrived at Jack Pine Safari on Friday afternoon.  After settling in to the main lodge and a quick lunch, we made a trip to the range to make sure our rifles were still on.  Following a short shooting session on the range, we were ready to head to the blinds for the evening hunt.

Mackenzie hunted with her dad and grandmother.  Lauren hunted with her dad and her grandfather.  It was a quiet evening.  No wind and mild temperatures.  The deer were in full rut.  The bucks were chasing the does all over the place so we saw a lot of big deer but nothing we were ready to shoot.  Saturday would prove to be another story!

We hunted Saturday morning from the same blinds we used the evening before.  There wasn’t quite as much deer movement but we both saw some pretty nice deer.  We returned to the lodge mid-morning for brunch.  We took time for a quick mid-day rest and then headed back to our blinds for the evening hunt.

Just as it had been the evening before, the deer were really moving.  We both began to see good deer almost immediately upon arriving at the blind.  We watched for a while until we each saw something we liked.  Mackenzie shot first – a big eight point that would score 130 SCI. About five minutes later it was Lauren’s turn.  Another eight point buck hit the dirt! After taking plenty of pictures, we got the deer taken care of properly and hung them from the massive buck pole at Jack Pine.

There was a great family celebration that evening back at the lodge!  After taking plenty of pictures, we had a great dinner!  We took time to share our success stories with everyone in the family who was there.

Sunday morning, we packed up and prepared to head for home.  Before we left Jack Pine, however, we took a lot more pictures.  One of the final things we did was to each write a note in the guest book at Jack Pine.  Our boy cousins had also written in the guest book when they each killed a buck or a bull elk in years past.  At the end of each of their messages, they each wrote ”BBD”.  We recognized right away that “BBD” stands for Big Buck Down.  At the end of each of our messages we also wrote “BBD” but we added one more line . . .“Girls hunt too!”

These pictures of some of our youth enjoying our huntingheritage remind us of why we need to stay involved with the Northeast Michigan Chapter of SCI. The future of what we hold so dear is in our hands, and our chapter is constantly striving to ensure that our future is as bright as ever.

If you know anyone who may be interested in joining SCI, then please direct them to our membership page on our web site at www.nemisci.com.

Safari Club International is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. This chapter driven, nonprofit association is a tireless advocate for the world's 45 million sportsmen and sportswomen, who, through legal hunting, annually drive more than $1.7 billion in funding to conserve all wild species. For more information, call 520-620-1220 or visit www.scifirstforhunters.org

SCI, which has members in more than 100 countries, maintains 13 Chapters in Michigan. 

Sportsmen are encouraged to get involved by calling any of the following: SCI Detroit (249-588-9393); SCI Flint Regional(810-744-0123); SCI Great Lakes Muzzleloaders (248-689-9116); SCI Kensington Valley (517-546-5145, ext. 27); SCI Lakeshore Sportsmen(231-773-0077); SCI Lansing Area (517-323-3361); SCI Michigan (231-652-3552); SCI Mid Michigan (989-983-2800); SCI Northeast Michigan (989-471-2458); SCI Northwoods (906-542-3473); SCI Novi (800-438-5983, ext.601); SCI Southeast Michigan Bowhunters (248-625-5707); SCI West Michigan Bowhunters (616-292-6289).

To see recent, notable conservation initiatives advanced by the SCI Foundation and SCI Chapters visit www.safariclubfoundation.org/pr/conservation.htm. These 61 projects alone represent a $7.5 million wildlife investment. The SCI Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that funds and manages worldwide programs dedicated to wildlife conservation, outdoor education, and humanitarian services. For more information on any SCIF program, call

877-877-3265 or visit www.sci-foundation.org

The record-breaking SCI 32nd Annual Hunters' Convention hosted more than17,000 sportsmen from 50 countries. Thanks to over 1,100 top exhibitors helping hunters realize dreams around the globe, and to some 1,100extraordinary auction items, the Convention raised over $10 million for SCI, the SCI Foundation and SCI-PAC, the political action committee amplifying SCI advocacy efforts for hunters. To register to attend SCI's 33rd Annual Hunters' Convention, in Reno Jan. 26-29, 2005, call 888-746-9724 toll-free or visit www.scifirstforhunters.org

Contact: Jim Brown

520-620-1220, ext. 477; 520-954-0581 (cell)

jbrown@safariclub.org