I know there are a few hunters surprised to see Bucko back for yet another year. Any buck as socially outgoing as this one, year after year, is bound to eventually cuddle up for a handout from someone with less favorable intentions (and a big gun). But here he is again, with no apparent holes in his hide. Barb Nelson has more coverage of this year's visit on her Bucko page.

Amazing!! Toivo, do you have any idea how old Bucko is?

Barb, what great photos of Bucko and his ladies. Nice work. *** Sandy ***

Go Bucko! You made it another year!

ODE TO A COUSIN JACK PASTY

I dearly love a pasty;
A 'ot and leaky wan,
With mayt, turmit and taty,
A honyon, parsley in 'um
the crust be made with suet
Shaped like a 'alf moon
Crinkly hedges, freshly baked,
'Es always gone too soon.

Boy did I miss a lot of good food talk yesterday by not looking in till now. I'm a Yooper wannabee and haven't eaten a lot of pasties (yet). I'm going to try the plain with a little salt and butter. I have eaten them with H. P. Sauce, a British meat sauce, and that's pretty good.

I have a suggestion for us wannabees, to identify and place all the locations that everyone's talking about. I just bought the "Michigan Atlas & Gazateer" by DeLorme from Amazon.com for $13.97 plus shipping (free for qualifying orders over $25). It shows just about every public road in Michigan in 100 pages. I now know where Toivo and Charlie are from. And where Bumbletown is. And Ahmeek, Gay, Lake Linden, Delaware, etc, etc..... I keep it by my computer and will be referring to it everytime that a place is mentioned. It really adds to the stories. And it will help a lot if I am successful in making it UP in the next few weeks. Try it, you'll like it.

Thank you for sharing the wild outdoors with us less fortunate folks who don't see these kind of bucks up close like this. You can go to Eagle River, MI and check out the deer yards but it doesn't compare to these photos. I don't know if I have ever seen a buck like this before, maybe passing by on the highway at 60 mph. I really appreciate the photography. It is outstanding.

He is a fine buck indeed. Definitely one that one would hope to see in the woods in November. But wily as he must be, he got the upper hand again this year, as many of them do. Speaking of pasties, that reminds me of venison pasties, pretty tough to beat in their own right.

Jim, from Twin Cities, have you ever been to the Copper Country? If not, I hope you have a chance to visit someday, and enjoy the area's beauty for yourself. Also, meet the townsfolk and take a friendly piece of our hospitality home with you. It's so nice to meet new faces from other places.

Jim, I agree with Dee. The Keweenaw not only has the best air on earth, with its rugged landscape being unsurpassed, but also has the friendliest people. It's unfortunate that the level of hospitality isn't everywhere. The world would be a much better place. The UP, particularly the Keweenaw, is truly God's Country.

A marvelous (and wily) buck indeed to make it to another autumn. A harvester's dream but also one to be admired and respected (as they all are).

Dee and Pegg,

I've been fortunate enough to be in Copper Country three times. The first was in 1958 with my mother a few years after my Dad passed away. We went over the old bridge and stayed in Copper Harbor. The second time was around 1977 with my wife, 10 year old son, and a friend of his. We camped at McLain State Park and had a great time. With those two exposures, I don't know what was wrong with me that I didn't get back until last year. But, I guess we Minnesotans have a lot of nice things in our own back yard too. We tend to hang around Duluth and the North Shore of OUR lake a lot. That being said, my third visit was last October when I came up to work the Lake Superior Pro Rally (Or the Press On Regardless (POR) to be historically and emotionally correct). I got to drive some of the back roads going from one stage to another and when I had a chance to look up from the road, I saw some great scenery. I met a lot of really nice people and for the first time, found out what a Yooper is. That plus all the things that I'm seeing on this great website, has caused me to fall in love with the place. I'm hoping that the fourth time will be before the end of winter. I'll certainly be UP by summer.

I have one possible ancestral link to the UP. My grandfather was originally from Sweden. He came to North America via Canada. He entered the U.S. through Michigan and worked there for a time. I don't at this time, know where in Michigan. But I will find out and if I'm lucky, it'll be the UP.

BTW, I went to Barb Nelson's Bucko page. Those are some wonderful photos. What an opportunity to be so close. And with my new Michigan Atlas, I now know that Bucko hangs out near the eastern entrance to the Portage River (White City)

I want to clarify what I meant when I said "OUR lake". I mean yours AND mine. We ALL live near one of the greatest resources in the world.

Pasty makers season their pasties. There is no need to add salt. A little ketchup is good.

This is a good site for yoopers, past and present

{http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/3454/,http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/3454/}

Found several friends lurking here

Jim--Even though the UP is my favorite Midwest place to visit, Duluth & the North Shore come in a close second. I've been there 3 times in the last 4 years. The ships going through the canal are awesome!!! There is so much to see & do along the North Shore too. Beautiful country & magnificent views of Lake Superior. Split Rock is one of the most beautiful lighthouse settings I've ever seen. At least you're NEAR Lake Superior & all it has to offer. I'm stuck in Hoosierland! :(

Anybody remember the deer at Delfs on Rice Lake?

A Yooper stopped at a wayside to use the bathroom, a old fashion pit style
outhouse. He walked in and hung his jacket on the nail and went about his business.
When leaving he grabbed his jacked and accidentally dropped it into the pit!

He thought what on earth should I do? Then he walked to his car and got the good ole'
fishin pole with a big ole' Daredevil and proceeded to hook his jacket and
reel it up. Another motorist came by and walked in on him. What on earth are
you doing? Well I dropped my jacket in by accident and had to get it out!
That old thing the fellow says, why on earth would you bother with it?
The Yooper then says, well there was a perfectly good Pasty in the front pocket!


Sorry for the bad joke........

HI..DRE......I remember the deer!! Do you remember the fish that Howie would feed by hand at the dock at Delfs Landing at Rice Lake??....Did you hear the sad story of the drowning of 3 young men in Rice Lake in November 1918. They were veterens of the 1st world war....and were at a homecoming party that night. My father, also home after the war was at another camp party that night at Rice Lake...he helped bring in the bodies. It really hit Lake Linden hard to lose these good young men......

To GRE

Bob Delf was feeding the deer at Rice Lake in 50s & 60s. The deer were yarding in that area at that time. He had names for most of the deer that came in to eat. He also had a viewing area where the people could watch them. He had a buck coming in that he called Bucky. When the time came that he could'nt feed them anymore a lot of them moved on towards the Jacobsville yards. He really enjoyed feeding the deer.

I remember those deer at Delfs very well. That was a big treat to go see them as to see one on the road as we do down here about every two minutes was fairly rare. I used to see more bears than deer along the road.

Mry Lou, Yes, if I remember correctly(I was just a kid) he had a pike that he could fed minnows to(by hand) at the end of the dock.It got a little aggressive one time and bit his finger. Those teeth opened a few cuts. Lake was loaded with perch at that time. I dont know how the fishing is now, but I understand that it nolonger contains the perch like it did years ago.

GRE. You remember correctly. I never knew you could tame a Pike untill I saw it come to the dock for it's meals. We had lots of good times at Rice Lake at Miller's camp while we were kids in high School. The guys all hunted from the Pete Miller, Sr. camp then.... In the 60's we got our own places out there...Gary and I, Mary & Ken Lacosse, Pete and Angie Miller and Mary and Bob Miller...in '74 Gary and I started to camp at my dad's place at Bootjack.....

Is that Dr. Duncan, the retired dentist, holding the horns by his head?

js, chassell
Those would be antlers.

I was hoping we finally got a glimpse of Toivo!

The man in the picture is Don Nelson, Barb's husband. By the way, Don has written quite a bit about lighthouses on the Great Lakes, an example you can read in a past issue of Keweenaw Video's newsletter.

correct name-- lots of deer hunters call them horns. They know they're antlers--they just like to call them horns. No harm done.

Support President Bush and the war with Iraq.

GRE are you talking about dolphs landing near howies place? i know Poo Poo also do? he has a camp on rice lake it next to tomlinson place

Jerry....I believe it is spelled "DELF", first place after the sharp curve at the lake coming from Bootjack rd. Miss that turn, you go in the lake.

Catherine, Toivo is more interesting when left to the imagination. Mystery is one of lifes many spices. What would we have to wonder about if he were unveiled?