- Well, hey, everybody.

Welcome to "Michigan Out of Doors."

Thank you so much for joining us this week.

We have a brand new show for you.

We do have a shortened show because our PBS stations are in pledge right now, but we are jam-packed with all sorts of good stuff.

We're gonna kick things off at a really cool turkey camp that has happened just towards the end of the turkey season.

And we're gonna take you to the Grand Haven Pier with some really special kids to do a little fishing.

Lots of variety on this week's show.

You stay tuned.

I'm Jimmy Gretchlinger.

It's time for "Michigan Out of Doors" ♪ From the first spring rains to the soft summer breeze ♪ ♪ Dancing on the pine forest floor ♪ ♪ The autumn colors catch your eyes ♪ ♪ Here come the crystal winter skies ♪ ♪ It's Michigan ♪ "Michigan Out of Doors" - [Hunter] What a beautiful day in the woods.

♪ Some day our children all will see ♪ ♪ This is their finest legacy ♪ The wonder and the love of Michigan ♪ ♪ As the wind comes whispering through the trees ♪ ♪ The sweet smell of nature's in the air ♪ ♪ From the great lakes to the quiet stream ♪ ♪ Shining like a sportsman's dream ♪ ♪ It's a love of Michigan we all share ♪ - [Announcer 1] "Michigan Out of Doors" is presented by: by Country Smokehouse, a sportsman's destination since 1988.

Featuring varieties of homemade sausage, jerky, brats, and gourmet entrees.

Holiday gift boxes can be assembled in store or online.

Details at countrysmokehouse.com.

- [Announcer 2] By Angler Quest Pontoons, offering fishing pontoons designed by anglers for anglers.

Angler Quest Pontoons are built with a multifunctional layout to support a variety of fishing adventures.

Learn more at anglerquestpontoons.com.

Mid-Michigan Ponds has been building and maintaining ponds throughout Michigan for nearly 25 years by providing tailored solutions for pond management, Mid-Michigan ponds can help keep your pond healthy year round.

Find more information at midmichiganponds.com.

(tense music) (gun firing) (upbeat music) (gentle music) - [Jimmy] For this week's show, I was in the central part of the state to tag along with a group of hunters enjoying a few days at turkey camp.

A relatively new tradition here and a perfect excuse to spend some time outdoors.

- So we're at our annual turkey camp.

We're in Mecosta County about an hour north of Grand Rapids and this is the first time we're hunting the property this year.

We've got about 400 acres that we're gonna be hunting.

We've got a great crew in in camp this year and this has always been our family deer camp and deer hunting property.

But about probably five years ago, we started an annual turkey camp, and it's just been great.

We've got a tremendous amount of turkeys on the property.

We see a lot of 'em during deer season in the fall.

And the trail cams that we have out, we're consistently seeing good amounts of turkey.

And I think the big thing is, there's just, there's no pressure.

So tomorrow will really be, even though this is late season for turkey season in Michigan, this will be our opening day tomorrow.

So the birds have not been called at all.

They haven't been pressured and we think, you know, late season, a lot of the hens are locked up right now on nest.

And so the toms are gonna be outlooking and we're pretty confident they're gonna respond to some of the calling we're doing, so it'll be fun.

- [Videographer] All right, Mitchell.

What do we got going on here?

- Trying to roost birds and they decided to come right into the field, right by the truck, so roosting is pretty easy as of right now.

Try to hear 'em, they walk right up to you.

(chuckles) Looks like a bunch of jakes came in right at about, was it 9:00 PM?

And they had a little fight out there and then a bunch of hens came running in.

So there's at least a dozen birds.

I don't know, there could be more out there just over the hill, but a lot more birds than we expected to see right at last light.

So it's good news.

- [Jimmy] After roosting a large flock of turkeys, we put together a game plan for it the next morning and decided that our best chance was to set up a few hundred yards from the group with two hunters sitting together.

Denny and Mike would be the shooters with Mitch running the calls.

- The wind's down, which is nice.

Saw some stars out there this morning.

So it should be a good one, Jordan.

- [Jordan] Just gotta get a bird to cooperate.

- Yeah, exactly.

We got the right guys calling, that's for sure.

(tranquil music) - It's gonna be a great morning.

The birds I think are gonna read the script.

We just heard some gobbling over here.

I think that's where you guys put 'em to bed last night.

So I think we're set up perfect.

So we just need 'em to get off the roost and start heading this way.

Beautiful sunrise this morning.

- [Jimmy] As we waited for the birds, we had roosted to head our way, we were surprised by two toms that came from a slightly different area.

But after a few calls, they were headed our way.

- [Mitchel] Really?

- [Denny] They're way over there in the field.

(Mitch turkey calling) See them?

(Denny laughing) - That's odd.

- Here they come.

Textbook.

Okay, these are both mature toms.

Two mature toms.

We got a double, come on.

- Still see 'em?

- Yeah.

Let's take a double.

- [Mitch] They're coming.

Get ready, they're coming.

- All right, sorry.

- Careful movement.

- [Denny] Yeah, they're coming.

Let me know when you want to take 'em, Mike.

I got the left one.

I got the left.

Say the word.

I got the left.

Say the word.

But when you shoot, I'm gonna go left, whoever's on the left.

(breathing heavily) I'm going left.

Just wanna tell you.

I'm gonna go left, let's take 'em.

Ready?

Take 'em.

(gun firing) (turkeys calling) (firing continues) (turkeys calling) (Denny chuckles) - Little excitement.

So two mature toms and you guys pulled them in on a string.

I mean, we watched them from several hundred yards away and they came right out, right exactly where we thought they were.

So we were trying to get a double, and Mike and I were talking and I was kind of waiting for him.

He was waiting for me.

So anyway, I missed the first one, and then got 'em on the second shot.

But boy, they read the script.

- Yeah, when you shot the second time, then I shot at the other one, and I was on him, maybe it was a little too far, I don't know, but yeah, hey.

(Mike speaking indistinctly) That was awesome though.

Good job, guys.

Good stuff.

(laughs) Good stuff.

- [Jimmy] Before we even had a chance to check out Denny's bird, the big group we had Roosted the night before started to work their way in.

So with the decoys knocked over and Denny's bird still in the field, we got Mike into a little better position to shoot.

And before we knew it, the big group was closing the gap.

(turkey calling) (light guitar music) (hunter speaking indistinctly) - [Mike] Man, man.

It's out there.

I think you wanna shoot him further out than in close, right?

Bigger pattern.

Yeah.

If he could find my bird.

- Got him.

- [Mike] Oh yeah, beautiful.

Look at that.

(turkeys calling) - Tell me when.

- The one on the left maybe Mike.

(hunters chattering indistinctly) (gun firing) - [Mike] You got 'em.

You got 'em.

Nice.

- Gosh!

(Denny chuckling) That was some serious action.

(laughs) - [Speaker] Oh, yeah.

- Holy smokes.

How many were in that group?

Eight or nine?

Well, that was textbook.

Those came on the same.

- I can't believe.

- Yeah, that scope's gotta be on, yeah.

Now, right on them.

- [Denny] Yeah, he's got some ice.

- [Jimmy] After a short recovery, we were able to find Mike's bird and later figured out that the red dot on his gun was indeed off.

However, that didn't stop him from catching some grief from the rest of the crew.

Regardless, two nice toms first thing in the morning is about as good as it gets.

- Oh, boy.

So yeah, we got on 'em early.

Denny scored first.

We had, what, four come in in that group?

- We did two initially.

These two Toms initially in the first group I think.

- Yeah, yeah.

And then we heard some more gobblings, more calling, and we had a hand out in the field.

And then we ended up with about eight or nine come in, a few toms and a handful of jakes all by, boy, it was probably seven o'clock.

- Seven o'clock.

- So when we had it done.

- Lots of birds.

- Nice job.

The team Nagle got it done.

Called him in, and Happy Hunters.

Nope, perfect setup.

And you guys called it last night with the game plan for this morning.

I mean, it was absolutely textbook.

Couldn't have went any better.

- [Jimmy] A great morning in the turkey woods, to be sure, and equally as important for this crew, a reason to spend a few more days at camp.

- It's really an extension of our deer camp.

The camaraderie, just having our buddies and family at camp.

Deer season has always been a big, big deal for us, and turkey season has just really extended that deer camp and great time to get together with family and friends.

It just kind of extends the whole deer season, and it's a lot more social type of hunting versus deer season, where you're kind of sitting in your blind all day by yourself.

With turkey season, it's great being together in the woods with another buddy calling for you.

So it's fun.

- [Jimmy] Time spent at deer camp, or turkey camp, in this case, is pretty tough to beat.

The hunting was good, but the company was even better.

Thanks to the Doyle crew for inviting me up again.

It was a fun couple of days here in mid-Michigan.

(gentle music) - [Denny] Say the word.

(gentle music continues) - Every year this time of the year, there's a pretty cool event that happens in Grand Haven right on the pier.

The local schools in the area get together and have a bunch of special-needs kids come out and do some fishing for a lot of them for the very first time.

It's a really cool event.

So we were there last week with cameras rolling to check it out.

(bus engine rumbling) (gentle music) Every year, there is a two-day event happening on the Grand Haven Pier that is really a pretty cool thing.

Special needs kids from the area get a chance to do some fishing, and many for the very first time.

- So we have, I think, 100 students today coming out to fish from the special education program partnered with Grand Haven Schools.

- [Jimmy] Okay, and how many years have you guys been doing this?

- So Grand Haven has been hosting, this is the third year, and Pursuing a Dream was doing it before that.

So I think, I don't know, maybe 15 years.

- Wow.

- It's been quite a while.

- [Jimmy] And why do you guys do this?

- [Kari] To see kids fish.

Some of the kids have never even been to the beach, they've never been to the pier, they've never held a fishing rod.

So we catch lots of gobies, catch lots of, yesterday, we had some bluegills, some catfish.

But it's just fun, it's exciting, and a good experience.

- [Jimmy] A good experience for sure.

What I like about this event is just what fun everyone is having.

The kids are excited to be here and not in school.

The staff from the schools get to see kids explore the outdoors, and the volunteers get to help kids catch fish.

- Hey, good morning, Michigan.

We're down here on the Grand Haven Pier.

My name is Ron Sharphorn.

I'm the founder, president, and coach of Grand Haven Bass Masters.

Today is an amazing day.

We are here for the GHAPS Fishing.

It's the special-needs event on the Grand Haven Pier.

We have the Grand Haven Area Public Schools event where we take special needs children along the boardwalk.

It's a two-day series.

Yesterday, we had roughly 145 students.

Today, we have just over 100, and it's a good thing.

The kids from all over the Grand Haven Area Public Schools come to fish along the boardwalk.

It's a couple-hour event, and we take them out for a few hours of fishing.

It allows some kids and students to come out and catch a few fish, usually gobies, catfish.

Somebody just caught a bass a few minutes ago.

It allows some of my team members to, what I use as a community service program.

It allows, I get out of work, of course, use some of my vacation time.

We have some great sponsors and partners that sponsor the event, MillerKnoll, McDonald's, and a few others.

It's a great day.

You're gonna see some kids catch fish.

They're excited.

They look forward to the program every year.

We do as well.

- Go through once you wrap it, and go through a second time.

And you want it dangling down like that, all right?

Now, you know how to cast, but we're not gonna cast.

We're gonna fish straight down.

- I kind of know how to cast.

- You do?

- I kind of.

- Okay, do it this way.

Hold it this way, push the button.

- [Jimmy] Having great volunteers at an event like this is so crucial, and today, we had some really good folks helping out.

Most of these kids have not done much fishing, so any fish, well, it was a big deal.

- Yeah!

- Oh, my God!

- Yay!

- Yay!

- Hey, look at the size of that goby.

Here.

Turn right around here and show him to the camera.

Look how pretty.

Yeah?

(laughs) - [Jimmy] And how long have you guys been doing this?

- [Ron] Well, the program under a different name has been running for probably almost 20 years.

- [Jimmy] Wow.

- But I think this is our fourth season through GHAPS Fishing, so yeah, it's a good thing.

So we definitely love it.

It's a heartfelt thing.

If you've never done it and you wanna come volunteer, it's about the same time every year, this May 14-15 time slot.

It's amazing.

- And a lot of these kids have never fished before.

- Some of them have not.

They definitely have not, you can usually tell.

So yeah, some of them don't like the worm.

Some of them don't like the fish, but they jump up and down.

So yeah, we need sponsors.

So if you wanna become a sponsor, reach out somehow to GHAPS Fishing, and we'll let you in for sure.

(light music) (indistinct overlapping chatter) - Ooh.

(laughs) - Oh my God.

- That's a nice one right there.

- [Speaker 1] Oh wow.

- [Speaker 2] Holy smokes.

- [Speaker 3] Here you go.

- Every once in a while, a sheepshead or a catfish gets caught.

The gobies are here as well.

But really, what today is all about is getting kids exposed to fishing and to see a part of their own town that, well, they maybe had never seen before.

Lots of volunteers here today are pretty avid anglers, and to see kids catch their first fish, well, it is pretty fun to be a part of for sure.

So if you're looking for a fun and meaningful couple of hours, mid-May is when this happens, and the more the merrier.

Thanks to Ron and all the folks that make this happen here in "Michigan's Out of Doors."

Well, hey, everybody, thank you so much for watching "Michigan Out of Doors" this week.

Like I mentioned at the beginning of the show, we do have a shortened show this week because our PBS stations are in pledge.

Maybe you've pledged before, maybe you haven't pledged ever.

It is a great way for you to vote for the outdoors.

Outdoor programming here on PBS, it goes a long way in deciding what they're gonna put on the air.

So if you've never made a pledge of support, we would encourage you to do that.

Let them know that outdoor television around our great state is something you wanna continue to see.

Thanks so much for joining us this week.

And if we don't see you in the woods or in the water, hopefully, you'll see us right back here next week on your PBS station.

- [Announcer] "Michigan Out-of-Doors" is presented by: - [Narrator] Get away from it all to your own place.

With GreenStone's recreational land loans, we'll help you finance acreage of any size so you can own your own place in the great outdoors.

GreenStone.

- [Announcer] By Great Lakes Firearms & Ammunition, a family-owned and operated firearm manufacturer in Sparta, Michigan, offering a wide variety of calibers and colors backed by a lifetime warranty.

More information available at glfallc.com.

By Saab, providing defense and civil security products and services for over 85 years, and now part of the Grayling community with our new advanced munitions facility.

Career opportunities are available.

More information at saabinc.com.

By GreenMark Equipment.

GreenMark Equipment is a John Deere dealership network in southwest Michigan and northern Indiana.

GreenMark provides sales and services to farmers, commercial businesses, large property owners, and homeowners.

Information about pricing and products available can be found online at greenmarkequipment.com.

(bright music) ♪ When I wander far away ♪ A dream stays with me night and day ♪ ♪ It's the road that leads to my home state ♪ ♪ I am a Michigan man ♪ Changing seasons paint the scenes ♪ ♪ Like rainbow trout in hidden streams ♪ ♪ The whitetail deer, the tall pine trees ♪ ♪ I am a Michigan Man ♪ I am, I am, a Michigan man ♪ Ask where I'm from, I'll show you my hand ♪ ♪ Lord above, I love this land ♪ I am a Michigan man (bright music) ♪ From the Keweenaw down to St.

Joe ♪ ♪ Kalamazoo east to Monroe ♪ Ste.

Marie and back again ♪ I am a Michigan Man ♪ I am, I am, a Michigan man ♪ Ask where I'm from (light music)