Great Lakes Outdoors Foundation Ladies U.P. Boar Hunt 2010
By Lee Zeidler, Executive Director
Sponsored By:
HORTON ARCHERY WILD SPIRIT GUIDE
LONG RANGE ARHCERY NOWICKIS SAUSAGE
Top Row: Jody Bachelder, Lee Zeidler (GLOF Exec Dir) Tonya Brown
Bottom Row: Chrissy Klemkosky, Sandy Brown (GLOF Treas), Debbie Wierenga
The Great Lakes Outdoors Foundation (GLOF) held its first hunt this past weekend in Michigan's Upper Peninsula at Wild Spirit Guide Service (www.wildspiritguide.com) in Powers, Michigan, just west of Escanaba. Four ladies were selected earlier in the spring to go on their first Black Russian Boar Hunt at Wild Spirit Guide Service, funded by GLOF. The ladies were outfitted with Horton Summit HD 150 Crossbows and Scent Lock Clothing. The hunt and all expenses were provided by the Foundation.
Tonya Brown of Fenwick, MI, was the first to get her Boar. On Thursday evening, while walking to the blind, we hadn't even reached the blind yet and we spotted a nice Russian Boar only 30 yards away. Tonya moved quickly and closed the distance to about 15 yards and setup her crossbow ready for a shot. The Boar moved through the brush, and presented a nice quartering away shot. Tonya waited for an opening and made a perfect shot into the vitals and the Boar crashed after running about 10 yards. It all happened so quickly, she was shocked how it all came together so soon. She had only arrived in Camp an hour ago, and she was looking at her first Russian Boar! It turned out to be a nice 225 lb estimated live weight Russian Boar.
The next afternoon, Jody Bachelder of Grand Rapids, MI, went to her blind, with Tonya acting as her guide. Since Tonya's experience was so short, we elected to have her coach Jody. After watching a few Feral Hogs and other wildlife, not seeing what she wanted they were getting ready to come back for a break when a nice Black and White Spotted Russian came into view and after watching it for a while it came very close to the blind. Patience paid off and it finally presented a nice quartering away shot at about 15 yards. Jody placed a perfect shot into the vitals and again it went down within 10 yards. She had her first ever hunting success! Jody's Russian had an estimated live weight of 225lbs.
Later that afternoon, Debbie Wierenga of Saranac, MI, had the most exciting hunt of the day after sitting with GLOF Treasurer Sandy Brown on Thursday evening and wounding a Russian in the leg when she got a real case of “Buck Fever”. Debbie is truly a beginner having never hunted anything before, she got a little excited and was just nervous. The Russian was three feet from the opening of the blind when she spotted him and it just got her a little scared. The next afternoon, she settled down and her and Sandy were in the blind when the same Boar came back in and gave her another opportunity; but just didn't get close enough. Wild Spirit Guide Owner, Dan Kirchner came out to check on her and decided they should walk and stalk the Boar. Debbie was determined to get the one she wounded the previous day. After a short walk, they spotted the Boar again and in her excitement, she had forgotten her shooting stick. She had to make an off-hand shot and placed an arrow through one lung. After some excitement, re-cocking the crossbow, and a quick run to the blind to get another arrow, she got another one in him and thought he was down. Dan quickly realized Debbie was out of arrows, and the Boar wasn't giving up just yet, so Debbie finished off the Russian with her pistol, and the encouragement of Dan and Sandy. Her Russian Boar turned out to be the same one she'd wounded the day before. It had an estimated live weight of 250 lbs.
Chrissy Klemkosky of Middleville, MI was sitting in her blind with Tonya Brown and hadn't seen a Boar yet. Chrissy wasn't as interested in the trophy part of a mount as much as she wanted meat for her freezer. Chrissy also wasn't sure if she could hunt when we approached her in the beginning. She got over her fears after arriving in Camp and decided to go hunting. With everyone else back at Camp with a Boar, Chrissy was the last one waiting in the woods with Tonya. Dan Kirchner decided to stalk another one with Chrissy. After locating some Feral Hogs, Chrissy made a good shot with her crossbow rested on a shooting stick. It took one more arrow to bring him down after the Feral did a short charge and gave Chrissy a little excitement! Her Feral Hog turned out to be the biggest one of all with a live weight estimate of 280 lbs.
Chrissy and Lee
Debbie and Sandy
Jody and Lee
Tonya and Lee
Great Lakes Outdoors Foundation had the meat processed and butchered by Dan's brother on site and packaged up for the trip home and ready to go in the freezer. After a relaxing day on Saturday everyone left still excited and happy with the hunt. For all of the ladies there were many firsts. Tonya had only hunted on her farm and never hunted away from the comfort of her home and family. Jody had hunted Deer and Turkey without success. Debbie had never hunted at all and never really thought she would. Chrissy, although a Trap and Skeet shooter was very hesitant about hunting at all. She didn't think she could “kill” anything. Later in the evening after getting her Feral Hog Chrissy told me she was ready to go Deer Hunting. After this weekend all of the ladies want to come back to Wild Spirit Guide Service and hunt again, and Tonya has invited them all over to go deer hunting on her farm this fall with their crossbows! They all quickly agreed. This hunt has turned four ladies into hunters, made new friends, made mentors out of some and gave them all an experience they will never forget. They are all anxious to hunt again and hunt soon! Some of them even said it was the best weekend they ever had! Debbie was a good sport when Jody teased her.The camaraderie shared was just like Deer Camp with the guys. Some of the ladies got their Boar with one shot and others took several; just like the guys. All of the fun made of each other was taken in good spirit. Jody's quick wit was entertaining to everyone and Dan Kirchner shared his wit talking about the ladies experiences. For all the ladies, the memories will last a long time.
The Foundation would like to thank those who donated to this event and made it possible. The Shaw and Betty Walker Foundation in Muskegon, MI donates to GLOF and without their support we could never do this. Their continued support of our efforts make all this possible. Wild Spirit Guide Service and Dan Kirchner donated to this hunt as well and we thank them for their support. For a great experience with Russian Boars, Feral Hogs, Bobcats, Bears and Mountain Lions call Dan at 906-250-0089. Horton Archery's Crossbow donation has allowed the ladies to keep their equipment to use again over the years. Long Range Archery in Muskegon, MI, donation for the Scent Lok suits was great, the ladies now have camo suits to go hunting again. Also, Nowicki's Sausage Shoppe in Alpena, Michigan, donated a great meal for our Camp Kitchen. For more info on these great supporters visit our website at www.grloutdoors.org.
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