Early gobbler
Nine-year-old Micah Hulce, hunting with Dean Hulce, of Vulcan, took his first turkey early on the opening morning of Michigan's season. The gobbler was taken in Spalding Township in Menominee County at 5:30 a.m. Monday. This may have been the first harvest in Michigan under the new mentored hunting laws. Age restrictions are removed for young hunters when they are accompanied by a licensed adult. Micah's turkey was 14 pounds with a three-inch beard.
Mentored hunt
Six-year-old Luke Rice, of Crystal Falls, shot his first turkey on the morning of April 25. He and his father, Ed Rice, were hunting in Iron County when Dad called in the bird. The youngster used a Remington 870 youth model 20 gauge. Luke has been accompanying his parents on hunts all of his life, but this was his first chance as a hunter - thanks to the new Michigan Department of Natural Resources mentored youth hunting program.