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Pathfinder gala set for March 2

Pathfinder gala set for March 2

The Pathfinder School will host its annual gala March 2 at the Delamar in Traverse City. The gala will feature a silent and live auction, offering exclusive items that cater to various interests. 02/21/2024 04:57 PM

Discovery Center gets $3M donation

Discovery Center gets $3M donation

A $3 million donation from a private donor puts the Freshwater Research and Innovation Center ever closer to its $26 million goal for the new facility. Discovery Center officials said that the $3 million donor wished to remain anonymous, but they expect to release additional details at a later date. 02/21/2024 04:57 PM

Cooperation sought for bovine tuberculosis infected deer

Cooperation sought for bovine tuberculosis infected deer

It seems unlikely that hunting in Leelanau will be directly affected by the discovery of a bovine tuberculosis-infected deer in southwest Benzie County. But Emily Sewell, who leads the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) response team to the discovery of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in the wild deer herd, said cooperation from hunters will be sought to help identify and control the disease. 02/21/2024 04:57 PM

Ryan Noonan took this 15-pound lake trout from West Grand Traverse Bay, by jigging from a 17-foot boat in about 150 feet of water. With ice remaining unsafe though most of Michigan, anglers are finding other ways to fill their freezers. Courtesy photo

No snow woes; ice fishing non-exsistent

Winter has provided more cross country skiing than ice fishing opportunities, which doesn’t say much. “During the 10 days of winter, we groomed about every other day, and it was great,” said Kerry Kelly, chairman of the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes organization that maintains the Heritage Trail through volunteers. 02/21/2024 04:57 PM

Winter weather welcomed by skiers, fishermen

Winter weather welcomed by skiers, fishermen

Can you have too much of a good thing? Apparently if the good thing is lake-effect snow, which on Saturday blanketed the Empire area to the point that it buried the cross-country trail groomer for the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail. “It was a blizzard around Empire, and it stayed there all day,” reports Kerry Kelly, chair of the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes organization. 01/24/2024 04:23 PM

Turkey survival documented in Leelanau

Turkey survival documented in Leelanau

The turkeys that have been paddling daily through deep, fluffy snow to munch on birdseed behind Chuck Bond’s house in Cleveland Township might be more accurately called Pennamites than Michiganders. 01/24/2024 04:23 PM

Winners at Big Buck Night hosted in Lake Leelanau by Dick’s Pour House were, top, Dan Cermak, bottom left, Al Steimel and bottom right, Al Skeba. Enterprise photos by Alan Campbell

Big Buck night celebration

The hunter who shot the biggest deer entered in the “big buck night” contest and festivities hosted by Dick’s Pour House on January 14, was also celebrating a birthday of sorts. “I didn’t realize until after I shot my deer that this was my 50th deer season,” said Al Steimel of Suttons Bay Township, who claimed first prize in the firearms division. 01/24/2024 04:23 PM

88-year-old Alvin Ance shot the biggest buck of his 74-year career on the last day of the Tribal hunting season. He’s in the running for the person who has shot the most Michigan bucks over his lifetime. Courtesy photo

Alvin Ance, legendary deer hunter

The biggest deer shot by 88-year-old Alvin Ance may have been the one that required the least work. Ance, a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, may have shot more bucks in Michigan than any other hunter. 01/24/2024 04:23 PM

A warm colored sunset over Lake Leelanau is seen at Bingham Boat Launch on the evening of the winter solstice last Thursday. The celebration of the winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year and the longest night in the hemisphere. Enterprise photo by Meakalia Previch-Liu

A warm colored sunset over Lake Leelanau

A warm colored sunset over Lake Leelanau is seen at Bingham Boat Launch on the evening of the winter solstice last Thursday. The celebration of the winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year and the longest night in the hemisphere. 12/27/2023 04:58 PM

Deer harvest down nearly 11% from ‘22

Deer harvest down nearly 11% from ‘22

The deer harvest appears headed for an off year in Leelanau County and the state, with the worst outcome coming from the Upper Peninsula. According to figures provided since the MDNR instituted a mandatory deer-kill reporting program in 2022, the harvest is down nearly 11% in Leelanau County from a year ago with only a few days left in deer seasons that run from September through December. 12/27/2023 04:58 PM

Roger Schaub, left, stalked elk with guide James Bunker for six days before they caught up with this 700-pound trophy. Schaub’s gun went click, but the second shot worked. Courtesy photo

Schaub takes mammoth elk in hunt

Click. That’s the sound of a firing pin striking a centerfire bullet that didn’t show up for work. 12/27/2023 04:58 PM

Doug Whitley, center, joined with two friends last month to hunt waterfowl in northwest Missouri. Courtesy photo

Whitley travels the globe for birds

Doug Whitley has a monthly shopping date for dinner fare, and the main course is fowl. Whitley, a Northport resident, hunts for game birds at least once a month in fall and early winter. 12/27/2023 04:58 PM