Post by: Ray Lyon on October 30, 2022, 07:19:08 AM
I’m thankful I did. The rest of the gang signed it at camp this year.
Post by: Ray Lyon on October 30, 2022, 07:30:04 AM
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I saw two different wolves in the 12 days I spent in camp and others heard them howling. Our friend who’s the local retired conservation officer has 6 on camera at one time on the rye field food plot on camp property and camp mate Roger Norris found the remains of a 3 point buck wolf kill while scouting. I love hunting Banana Ridge, the mile long oak ridge that runs through the property, but it turns out the wolves made it their primary hunting center. Needless to say this makes for tough competition and conditions. Management commentary aside, we made do from a hunting aspect and I know Ron would have loved to see a wolf.
Post by: GCook on October 30, 2022, 07:33:49 AM
Post by: Ray Lyon on October 30, 2022, 07:52:35 AM
Post by: Ray Lyon on October 30, 2022, 07:56:37 AM
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Post by: Ray Lyon on October 30, 2022, 08:50:46 AM
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My Shrew Classic Hunter II Autumn Gold Shrewhaven member bow, Ace Express two blade and Shrew Mantis quiver that Ron had signed many years ago for my daughter. Ron also loved the big Ace Super Express 200 grain heads. I opted for some Ace Express 165 in his honor and it performed flawlessly on this doe breaking her shoulder and penetrating both sides. 80 yard piled up and it was all before dark so I beat the wolves to her. 😉
Post by: Ray Lyon on October 30, 2022, 08:51:26 AM
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on October 30, 2022, 09:04:30 AM
Post by: BAK on October 30, 2022, 09:12:43 AM
Post by: TIM B on October 30, 2022, 09:17:48 AM
Tim B
Post by: Bob D on October 30, 2022, 10:59:44 AM
One of my favorite threads every year….thanks RayMine too. I’m glad Henry made it back also. ~Bob
Tim B
Post by: GCook on October 30, 2022, 01:52:52 PM
Post by: Pine on October 30, 2022, 02:22:44 PM
Thanks for sharing with us, I look forward to this every year. :clapper: :archer:
Post by: 1Arrow1Kill on October 30, 2022, 04:00:49 PM
Post by: JR Chambers on October 30, 2022, 04:24:13 PM
Post by: stagetek on October 30, 2022, 04:35:25 PM
Post by: Ray Lyon on October 30, 2022, 07:11:52 PM
Henry Bodnik practicing in camp
Post by: Ray Lyon on October 30, 2022, 07:13:17 PM
Post by: Ray Lyon on October 30, 2022, 07:19:34 PM
Roast bone in pork loin. Fantastic
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Chef Greg Nicolaou
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Henry Bodnik heading out for the evening hunt
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old railroad grade cutting through the camp property
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Armstrong Creek never dissappoints. Banana ridge is to the right of the creek in photo
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better group photo
Post by: Captain*Kirk on October 30, 2022, 10:28:49 PM
Post by: double eagle on October 31, 2022, 10:08:21 AM
Post by: rastaman on October 31, 2022, 10:14:52 AM
Post by: Terry Green on October 31, 2022, 11:01:48 AM
I sure miss 'coffee with Ron' every morning here. :campfire:
Post by: Ray Lyon on October 31, 2022, 12:33:40 PM
MANY MANY Thanks Ray for posting this. This hunt has been a staple here for almost 2 decades.
I sure miss 'coffee with Ron' every morning here. :campfire:
Terry,
Ron loved chatting with you and of course always bragged about the cigars he got from you!! We’re hoping we can carry on the camp tradition and whether it is at Shrewhaven or something similar Ron’s influences will certainly be present. At Ron’s memorial shoot at the Great Lakes Longbow Invitational (which Ron founded), I mentioned to the small crowd that one of the biggest things Ron taught our group was having a camp to build tradition and make memories. It is nice to have a place like Shrewhaven, no doubt, but I’ve seen other hunts like the Tradgang pig hunts in Texas or some of the regional PBS public land bow hunts that have been organized. The Shrewhaven guys have our own group text chat and we’re chatting about things and sharing accomplishments year round. Those friendships are what camp is all about.
Thank you all for the kind words. It’s been an honor to be a part of this thread over the years. I feel blessed.
Post by: woodchucker on October 31, 2022, 12:51:57 PM
I talked with Ron when he was layed up after his foot surgery...
We talked about getting older, and it being tuffer for me to climb the mountain.
I told him that I'm offered a ride up, but it just doesn't "feel" the same....
Ron told me, "Take the ride Chuck. We do what we gotta do, to do what we gotta do"
I'm sure Ron is watching, and proud of you guys, for "Carrying On" the tradition....
Post by: MSU on October 31, 2022, 08:05:48 PM
Post by: Roger Norris on November 01, 2022, 07:53:25 AM
I literally saw more wolves from the treestand than deer. Ray and I kinda split up Banana Ridge, and this year I saw no scrapes, no deer, and plenty of wolves. One of the things though...most years Banana Ridge is covered in acorns. This year they were minimal. So it might not have been entirely the wolves fault.
I slept in a tent this year, just so I had more room for gear. It was super comfortable....the coldest night was 17 degrees and it was cozy in my 3 man tent. I did hear the wolves rallying over a kill Tuesday night, it was Wednesday morning I found the wolf kill very close to my stand spot.
I use a Beast Gear stand, and move every other sit or so...often not far, but enough to keep them guessing and capitalize on sightings or sign. So that day I moved quite aways, actually very (too close) close to the cabin. My theory was that the deer might be closer to the cabin because the wolves weren't . I was right, and started seeing deer, but ran out of time.
It was a great camp, time spent with great friends. Ron LaClair was the topic of conversation most of the time. Lots of laughs, with a little sad thrown in. We have all said goodbye to Ron in our own ways, but being together at camp kinda sealed it up. Vaya Con Dios Lobo.....
Post by: Ray Lyon on November 01, 2022, 08:11:54 AM
Post by: Roger Norris on November 01, 2022, 11:13:54 AM
Post by: MGH on November 01, 2022, 03:26:45 PM
Post by: STICKBENDER98 on November 01, 2022, 03:47:46 PM
Jason
Post by: Ray Lyon on November 01, 2022, 10:03:05 PM
I just did an article for Compton’s Traditional Bowhunter that was in the last quarterly magazine that outlined some of the history. Also, I penned a couple of articles for Traditional Bowhunter Magazine (one about ten years ago and one about two years ago about the history of the camp).
Ray
Post by: cacciatore on November 02, 2022, 04:59:00 AM
Post by: Ray Lyon on November 02, 2022, 05:41:49 AM
Thought maybe this would be helpful to some. Hopefully the pictures are clear enough. This is from the fall Compton’s member’s magazine.
Post by: Roger Norris on November 02, 2022, 08:33:42 AM
The ride up was fine. I could tell he was weaker than normal, but he was otherwise the same old Ron. When we arrived in camp, everyone was out hunting. Ron settled in while I unloaded gear. He had a new bow and arrow combination he wanted to try out, so I set up his stool on the porch of Lobos's Lair and he shot 3 arrows. I thought that drawing the bow was too much for him. I noticed an immediate change to his demeanor.
It all went kinda sideways from there, and I ended up driving him home 2 days later. His son met me, and Ron's health really fell off from there. I have always felt guilty about driving him up....I think it was all too much for him.
Which is a long story to say that I believe that I retrieved Rons last 3 arrows. I don't say that as a brag, but just a sad note to our last camp with Ron. I hope I am wrong, but I don't think he was able to shoot after that. He did recover enough to go turkey hunting in the spring with his double barrel.
Sledge
Post by: Terry Green on November 02, 2022, 10:39:23 AM
Thanks to all that are posting here, please bring more, stories, laughter, and even sad.
After paying for Tradgang myself for over two years, and after the 3rd server update we had to move to our own server - a Super Server - that couldn't be shared with anyone else. The fees were just too high with a wife and two girls to raise for me to keep financing it. So, we had to incorporate a Sponsorship program and Ron call me immediately upon my post requesting for said and asked 'Where do I send the Money'. Same thing when we incorporated banners, he was the 1st. So, its also sad that there is no Shrew Sponsorship here nor a banner any longer.
But as we all know, Ron is not, was not, nor will ever be defined just by his bow line.
I have to run, but I'll come back and chat a bit about meeting him at his shop years ago in Potterville.
Again, thanks to all for posting as Ron was definitely a corner stone here. :campfire:
Post by: blacktailchaser on November 02, 2022, 03:22:39 PM
Post by: Captain*Kirk on November 02, 2022, 07:59:35 PM
Post by: STICKBENDER98 on November 02, 2022, 08:03:06 PM
My oldest daughter with her Siberian Tiger Shrew, if my memory serves me right Ron told me it was the second one sold at the Expo in Kalamazoo the year they came out. The funny part to this story is, I had shot the bow, and was talking with Ron about it, and Erica asked to go shoot it, came back as I was still talking with Ron, and said "I want it!!" he looked at me and started laughing and said "I thought you were buying it" as she was laying $100.00 bills in his hand. He was still laughing that summer at Elm Hall when we stopped to chat with him.
Jason
Post by: Gun on November 02, 2022, 09:33:54 PM
Post by: GCook on November 02, 2022, 11:28:08 PM
Post by: Terry Green on November 03, 2022, 08:35:16 AM
:campfire:
Post by: Ray Lyon on November 03, 2022, 11:25:37 AM
Randy (blue shirt/tan) vest and Kenny (black/white checkered) are two of our local friends that watch over the cabin/open up the cabin and close it down after we leave. They both have Shrew bows too. We always have them out to camp for a meal and catch up on all the local color/gossip as well as wildlife issues. They really make camp a more enjoyable experience (we of course flip them some cash which never seems like enough for what they do). In addition the retired local conservation officer (Dave) and his son (Zach)who’s a current officer hunt the property and keep an eye on things and warn us of any suspicious activities. We also had them out to camp for Eric Bohnet horseradish burger extravaganza (50/50 beef/venison burger mixed with horseradish—-fantastic) and it’s always funny to hear stories of their arrests over the years. These people have been instrumental in our camp experience over the years and Ron always stressed welcoming them with open arms. Dave is an outstanding deer and turkey hunter. Sometimes he’d stop by camp with a big buck he’d harvested and we of course would chide him about being able to hunt at night without fear of being caught ;)
Dave’s inscription in my Shrewhaven photo album
Here’s Ron, Greg and local friend Kenny bringing in a load of first cuts from saw logs that we used as siding on’Lobo’s Lair’ cabin.
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Here’s Tim and Eric installing the boards after prep.
And a twenty year younger version of me prepping each board. Even the summer camp workbees we’re fun.
Post by: Ray Lyon on November 03, 2022, 11:44:14 AM
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I’m also the camp pie baker
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Eric Bell and Kevin Marshall rotisserie extraordinaries
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I’m not sure what inspired me to set up the camera on my big tripod and shoot this photo but it’s been used in a couple of my articles. It really captured the essence of camp post dinner. A couple of guys taking turns doing dishes while the rest are deep in storytelling or solving a world crisis.
Nonetheless, a very important part of the Shrewhaven experience
Post by: Ray Lyon on November 03, 2022, 11:50:08 AM
Post by: Captain*Kirk on November 03, 2022, 01:35:29 PM
Post by: IndaTimber on November 03, 2022, 03:16:01 PM
Post by: Roger Norris on November 03, 2022, 09:05:17 PM
Post by: Captain*Kirk on November 03, 2022, 10:34:54 PM
Post by: JR Chambers on November 04, 2022, 06:12:27 AM
Post by: Terry Green on November 04, 2022, 09:54:52 AM
Post by: Ray Lyon on November 05, 2022, 06:01:17 AM
Post by: Ray Lyon on November 05, 2022, 06:04:20 AM
Post by: Possum Head on November 05, 2022, 09:31:47 PM
Post by: Captain*Kirk on November 06, 2022, 12:54:44 AM
Post by: Tim Reese on November 06, 2022, 07:21:12 AM