Kicking off 2012

I've had nothing but hunting on my mind with all the unusually warm weather. I talked myself into heading North to do some small game hunting and post-season scouting. I also hit the local hunting ground to get a better look at some areas I had yet to venture into. Here's how those trips went.

First trip: Lincoln, MI
Temp. 22 degrees
We had little to no snow here and I had heard many people complaining of the lack of snow up north that kept them from being able to snow mobile. I was thinking to myself that I might not get an opportunity to get into the Northern woods this time of year again for a while. Typically there are feet of snow right now. I talked myself into heading up with my 20 gauge to possibly harvest some rabbits and set up a trail cam.
As I hit Standish the snow started showing up. By the time I got to the two-track into my little piece of heaven there was about 6 inches of snow. The trail back wasn't too bad because it was downhill. The only other tracks were from snow mobiles that had packed down some of the trail which pretty much was the only way I was going to get my Malibu Maxx 2 miles back in half a foot of snow. I pushed a lot of snow but made it to my destination. A few snow mobilers came riding up from behind me as I was putting my boots on and I don't think they could have looked more puzzled as to how a car got back in the woods that far. But, my malibu is a tank.

The woods were amazing. Every little branch no matter how small had 4-5 inches of snow piled on it making both sides of the trails I walked look like a hallway with zebra print wallpaper.
I saw a few rabbit tracks, lots of deer tracks and beds and a lot of coyote tracks. I saw a couple squirrels and 2 deer but never got a chance at any rabbits.

I set up my trail camera in front of a trophy rock I poured acorn rage on. I was able to hide the camera pretty well on a pine tree about 10 yards from the bait. I hope to pick the camera back up sometime in February if the weather permits and it isn't stolen.

I hiked about 4 miles that day. I was worried about my Danner boots getting wet and my feet getting cold but they worked flawlessly. I can't believe I have used these boots in 90+ degree heat and now in freezing temps and have not had a single problem with them.
I had to rock my way out of getting stuck a few times on the drive out. Including burning through half a tank of gas in one 100 yard stretch but I made it to the road luckily.

Second Trip: Holly, MI
Temp: 32 degrees

Today I hit one of my favorite places in Oakland County. I was just out to get some exercise and maybe find an antler shed. I walked many of the areas I have been waiting for hunting season to get over to check out. I jumped 3 big deer in one spot and found 5 or 6 new tree stands I hadn't seen before. It was supposed to be nasty and windy but it was relatively nice. I found an old car flipped over in the middle of the woods which was pretty cool. It said Roadmaster accross the front I am going to google it later to see what kind of car it was. I didn't find any sheds and didn't really find any new spots to hunt but I put 3 more miles on the gps and had a good time.