A Compass and a Crow Call
I’ve been known as an east-sider most of my life. My hunting career began in Jackson County in the early 1970’s. Our family’s Christmas tree business did not allow for much father/son recreation time during the fall so I hunted mostly on my own, investigating little nooks and crannies within walking distance of our home. As time went on and I acquired “wheels” my explorations of the east side broadened which brings me to this account.
Jackson County is split north and south by the Black River. West of the river is primarily privately owned farmland with wooded hills and valleys. East of the river you’ll find over 100,000 acres of public lands in a vast tract of forest and marsh. Many unpaved roads and trails dissect the “east side” providing almost unlimited hunting opportunity.
The area does receive some pretty heavy hunting pressure but…there are some untouched areas that can be accessed, if you do your homework and are not feint of heart (literally!).
The group I hunt with are venison addicts to the core! We do our preparation and research before we enter “no man’s land” so each hunter is equipped with the essentials to handle this terrain. Gear includes rubber knee boots (hip boots in some years), a compass and knowledge of its use, a two-way radio for coordinating drives and last but not least a crow call to keep track of each other’s positions without scaring game.
We work these large tracts in a grid pattern taking about ½ mile per move. Wind direction is always taken into consideration. Most deer tend to head into or across the wind while escaping pressure. Picking the perfect spot for “headers” (hunters awaiting the deer’s escape) is always a challenge and many deer manage to slip through our design!
Over the course of a long day of “givin’ er’ ” someone generally sees a quality buck and occasionally we even manage to hang a tag on him!
This style of hunting is not for everyone. Preparation and safety are of the utmost importance. If you enjoy a challenge the rewards are great. I thank God for the opportunities and resources he provides. Hunt while you can!
Dennis Guenther
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