Thumb of michigan predators

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yamahame

New member
Has any one noticed the decline of predators in the thumb? Just a few years ago I would call something in every 3-4 stands.Now it seems next to impossible to get something in.Im not shure if this is due to all the new interest in calling and uneducated hunters makeing them call wery. Or if it is the several groups of hound hunters moveing the animals to different locations.Or if the population is just been depleated. Any deer hunters have a good idea about numbers of predators while deer hunting? I used to see tons of them during bow season. But it has been a few years since I have been able to bow hunt. Me and the wife lost our bow hunting property due to the land owners sale.So I can't get an idea of how the season is going to be. But this is for shure something has changed.If anyone has run hounds how has it been going for you? Are they harder to find? Any help would be greatly appreciated as time and gas money are always an issue.I have also heard from several deer hunters say that mange might be an issue this year. Maybe this has lowered the population. I would think with fur prices the way they were last year, that the population would be up. As many including myself quit hunting last year. No reason to kill them if there no worth the gas money.Hope it is better this year. And I can get back in the game.
 
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I'm in Vassar right now and did a little locating the last few days when I was coming off the Bay from walleye fishing and got a big fat nothing. Last year there was sign all over by the bay. All the way from Bay Park up to Bay Port.

My friend was telling me that he has seen a few around his land in Vassar. My niece says she hears them every time she goes to a friend s house just east of Vassar. I talked to a farmer from Mayville and he said they had them a few years ago but not anymore.

I think they are around, they are just moving around. I also think that the numbers aren't as high in the thumb area as they are in other parts of the state. I have always seen coytes up near Tawas near my parents cottage. I see that there are some guys on here having some success in th middle and SW part of the state as well.

If you want to stick close to the thumb I would say try the state land around the bay, especially around the Thomas Rd. area.
 
I put alot of time in near thomas (we leave to walley fish from there). And don't get much of anything any more.Not worth the drive.And your right about Tawas. Me and the boy went there last week. Great time! Called in 5. Had him sitting where he would get the shot.And he never shot a one.I think he was sleeping. He worked the day before and we left a 4:AM.Oh well it was some good time to spend with him. He's 21 so I don't get much of that kind of time any more.Thanks for the update. And how is the walley fishing going?We want to get out soon.Most importantly hows the ice?
 
I was in the thumb on new years, a friend of mine has 3 brothers that run dogs in Huron county. They shot 2 in the morning in a square mile section. On a normal year they kill 100-200 yotes in that area, and have no problem as long as there is snow. I was going to try and call about 20 miles away but the wind and snow was brutal that day.
 
Yamahame, the fishing didn't go so well for me. I'm going to go back up in a few weeks and try again. Good to hear you called some in around Tawas. The Ice is good enough for quads now. I was out of Vanderbilt park. Last week, before the ice blew out, my dad and brother were catching huge perch during the day and three or four walleyes each right at dark.

I know a guy that hunts with those guys up in Huron county occasionally. He says they really lay the smack down on them.
 
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I hunted hard the past 2 days in Allegan which is on the west side of the state..7 hours of calling and moving and calling Saturday, and 4-5 more hours today.ZERO!I was competing with too much snow and WAY to many dang snowmobilers that think they owned the woods.
 
I'm located in South West MI, and I haven't seen much variation in our population. We've never had a massive population, I'd guess 10-20 per square mile, based on scouting efforts in this years snow.

Mapes, Good luck with the snowmobiliers in Allegan Forest, they tend to see the trail maps as only general guidance.
 
yeah well..I think I made my point to one of them..Thought he could go as fast as he could down the MAIN ROAD..turned the corner and I was there in my truck. Since he wasnt on the snowmobile trail, I didnt move for him.He ended up flipping his snowmobile into the ditch. I made sure he was alright, but also made sure he knew that I wasnt on the snowmobile trail and he was on the main road.Where you at blitz?We should go huntin!
 
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