Taylor’s Turkey

April 30th, 2010

Nothing can replace loosing my Dad as my hunting partner, but gaining my oldest daughter sure comes close! We have now begun our hunting partnership and she has a good early start. The Heinrich turkey stories will continue.

Wednesday morning we set up along a wooded fenceline overlooking an alfalpha field right across the road from our house (thanks again Brent) and were ready to hunt by 5:30. 2 toms pitched down about 5:40 about 150 yards away. Lots of gobbling ensued and we talked back and forth. I got them to about 100 yards and then the hens pitched down. Damn hens! The hens and 2 toms stayed within 250 yrds of us all morning so we could at least see them – to help keep Taylor occupied. A rooster and hen pheasant walked all around us crowing and putting on a show. I was watching the 2 toms strutting around and then heard a different gobbler. I thought it was behind us in a soil bank field but turns out it was directly in front of us and coming straight at us. He was about 70 yards out and could see the decoys. He got as close as about 50 yards and then started to circle around. I was just giving him some soft calls and moving my jake and hen decoys with strings to give some movements. After about 10 minutes of this, he couldn’t take it anymore. He gobbled at us at about 40 yards and then came in on a bee-line. Going in and out of strut all the way in. What a perfect show! He came in to the jake decoy at about 15 yards and started bluff charging it and pecking at it. I told Taylor to shoot when she felt comfortable. She waited until he was clear of the decoys and the neck was out-stretched and she absolutely smashed him at about 18 yards! The look on her face was priceless and she said “I got him!”. Lots of hugging and maybe even a tear or two were shed (by me). I couldn’t have been prouder – she did it perfectly. It wasn’t until after we looked at the bird and were looking at places to take pictures that I fully realized where we were hunting. We were set up within 15 yards of where Dad and I shared our first turkey hunt together 9-Springs ago and Dad took his first bird. The rock pile in the background of the pictures is where Dad and I had set up. That was the perfect addition to our story and will always be very special to me and Taylor. I am sure Grandpa was helping hold that barrel steady!

This was Taylor’s first game animal and what a beauty.
21 pounds, 10-inch beard, 7/8″ spurs shot at 7:45 am on April 28, 2010

The End,
Ben
(PS – we each have tags for the 5th season too!!) She already is asking when we can go again – and that is music to my ears!


Robert “Bob” Heinrich

April 6th, 2010

Robert “Bob” Heinrich, age 65, of Sarona, WI formerly of Roberts, WI died Thursday, April 1, 2010 at his home in Sarona.

He was born July 10, 1944 in St. Paul, MN to Robert and Florence (Leuer) Heinrich. After graduating from the Harding High School in St. Paul in 1962 he entered the US Marines serving in Naval Intelligence from 1962 – 1965. After receiving an honorable discharge he returned to St. Paul. Bob was employed by 3M in Product Development until retirement in 2001. He had also co-owned and operated the Sidetrack Saloon in Roberts, WI. In addition to his love for his family and friends, he loved to hunt, fish, play cards, bowl, golf, darts and shoot pool. Bob was a founding member of the Happy Hookers Fishing Club.

Bob Heinrich is survived by his wife, Diane Heinrich of Sarona, WI; a son, Benjamin (Wendy) Heinrich of Hammond, WI; a daughter, Amy Jo (Todd) Ballew of St. Paul, MN; 3 grandchildren, Taylor, Peyton and Jordyn; his mother, Florence Dumer of White Bear Lake, MN; 3 brothers, Gary (Terry) Dumer of Alabama, Richard (Cindy) Dumer of Ladysmith, WI and Donald (Joyce) Dumer of White Bear Lake, MN; 2 sisters, Diane (Richard) Pelletier of Cameron, WI and Beverly (James) Lau of Ham Lake, MN; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, step father and grandparents.

A Service of Remembrance will be held 11:30 AM Monday, April 5, 2010 at Appleyard’s Home for Funerals in Rice Lake, WI, interment will be 2:30 PM Monday at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Cemetery at Spooner, WI, where Military Rites will be accorded by the State Honor Guard. Friends may call from 10 AM – 11:30 AM Monday at Appleyard’s Home for Funerals.

New National Symbol for Choking

January 28th, 2010

Important Safety Bulletin
The American Medical Association has announced a new national symbol for choking.  Please inform all of the people in your safety department.

Old Symbol

New Symbol

How To Tell if You’re from Minnesota

January 19th, 2010

You are probably from Minnesota if:

  • You know it is traditional for the bride and groom to go bar hopping between the ceremony and the reception.
  • You know how to polka, but never tried it sober.
  • You know what knee-high by the Fourth of July means.
  • You were delighted to get a miniature snow shovel for your 3rd birthday.
  • You can recognize someone from Iowa by their driving.
  • You buy Christmas presents at Fleet Farm.
  • You spent more on beer than you did on food at your wedding.
  • You hear someone use the word “oof-dah” and you do not immediately break into uncontrollable laughter.
  • You think fast food is hitting a deer at 65 mph.
  • You or someone you know was a “Dairy Princess” at a county fair.
  • You let your older siblings talk you into putting your tongue on a steel post in the middle of winter.
  • You think Lutheran and Catholic are THE major religions.
  • Football, Deer Hunting & Opening Fishing schedules are checked before wedding dates are set.
  • Saturday you go to the local bowling alley.
  • There was at least one kid in your class who had to help milk cows in the morning.
  • You have driven your car on a lake.
  • You can make sense out of the word “upnort” and “battree”.
  • You always believed that vacation meant “going up North”.
  • At every wedding you have been to you have had to dance the hokey poky and the chicken dance.
  • Your definition of a small town is one that only has one bar.
  • The local gas station sells live bait.
  • At least twice a year, the kitchen doubles as a meat processing plant.
  • Your mom asks, “Were you born in a barn?” and you know exactly what she means.
  • You think that the start of deer season is a national holiday.
  • Pop is not only what you call your dad, but is the ONLY name for soda.
  • You actually understand these jokes and forward them to all your Minnesota friends.
  • Yeseree–yer from Minnesota!

    Sven and Ole, Hell and the Vikings

    January 12th, 2010

    Ole and Sven have a snowmobiling accident, drunker than skunks, both die, and go to Hell.

    The Devil observes that they are really enjoying themselves.

    He says to them ‘Doesn’t the heat and smoke bother you?’

    Ole replies, ‘Vell, ya know, ve’re from nordern Minnesooota, da land of snow an ice, an ve’re yust happy fer a chance ta varm up a little bit, ya know.’

    The devil decides that these two aren’t miserable enough and turns up the heat even more. When he returns to the room of the two from Minnesota, the devil finds them in light jackets and hats, grilling Walleye and drinking beer. The devil is astonished and exclaims, ‘Everyone down here is in misery, and you two seem to be enjoying
    yourselves?’

    Sven replies, ‘Vell, ya know, ve don’t git too much varm veather up dere at da Falls, so ve’ve yust got ta haff a fish fry vhen da veather’s dis nice.’

    The devil is absolutely furious. He can hardly see straight. Finally he comes up with the answer. The two guys love the heat because they have been cold all their lives. The devil decides to turn all the heat off.

    The next morning the temperature is 60 below zero, icicles are hanging everywhere, and people are shivering so bad that they are unable to wail, moan or gnash their teeth. The devil smiles and heads for the room with Ole and Sven. He gets there and finds them back in their parkas, bomber hats, and mittens. They are jumping up and down, cheering,
    yelling and screaming like mad men.

    The devil is dumbfounded, ‘I don’t understand, when I turn up the heat you’re happy. Now its freezing cold and you’re still happy. What is wrong with you two?’

    They both look at the devil in surprise and say, ‘Vell, don’t ya know, if hell iss froze over, dat must mean da Vikings von da Super Bowl.’

    A Wisconsin Bear Joke

    January 5th, 2010

    A man woke up one morning in northern Wisconsin to find a bear on his roof….
    So he looks in the yellow pages and sure enough, there is an ad for “Bear Removers”…..
    He calls and the bear remover says he’ll be over in 30 minutes….
    The bear remover arrives and gets out of his van. He’s got a ladder, a baseball bat, a shotgun and a mean old pit bull…..
    “What are you going to do?” asks the homeowner…..
    “I’m going to go up there and knock the bear off the roof with this baseball bat. When the bear falls off , the pit bull is trained to grab his testicles and not let go. The bear will then be subdued enough for me to put him in the cage in the back of the van”….
    Then he hands the shotgun to the homeowner…..
    “What’s the shotgun for”, asks the homeowner…..
    The bear remover said, “If the bear knocks me off the roof, shoot the dog!”.

    2009 Video

    January 2nd, 2010

    2010 Fishing Contest Schedule

    January 1st, 2010

    Our illustrious Fishing Chair Brian has come up with the following list of dates and times, as well as a couple actual lakes/locations, for the 2010 Happy Hookers Fishing Contests. One can only hope as the dates get closer, more details will be made available…..

    • Jan 30, 2010 – 11AM thru 6PM – Bald Eagle Lake – White Bear Lake, MN
    • Mar 12 & 13, 2010 – Times TBD – Lake of the Woods – Baudette, MN
    • May 15, 2010 – Times TBD – Yellow Lake – Webster, WI
    • Jun 18 & 19, 2010 – Times and Lake/Location TBD
    • Jul 10, 2010 – Time TBD – St. Croix River Garbage Contest – Hudson, WI
    • Aug 14, 2010 – Times and Lake/Location TBD
    • Sep 10 & 11, 2010 – Times TBD – Elephant/Blackduck Lakes – Orr, MN

    Welcome to the Happy Hookers Website

    December 1st, 2009

    We are currently under construction…..
    Enjoy the archives of our monthly meeting minutes, as well as the Constitution and By-laws, and check back soon for exciting updates!

    Monthly Post Archives
    Cool Fishing Stuff