2011 - Hap Johnson “pays-it-back”

November 15, 2011 • Voyageur Press

When it comes to hunting traditions, there are so many, and each one has its own special twist. For the Johnson family, they have a tradition that began with a trail... and another... and another... and eventually 11 miles of trails on about 400 acres. 

The Johnson property now contains several deer stands, a comfortable and cozy deer shack and plenty of hunting memories with more to come.

Shooting big bucks is also a tradition and it began very early on when Hap, and his brother Clyde shot a nice 18-pointer 45 years ago. Bob shared that the buck had 12 points on one side and six on the other.

Another big buck taken by a member of the hunting crew was a 16-pointer shot by Dave Willeck. 

The trail system that meanders throughout the Johnson farm began with a vision by Hap some 15 years ago. “I had a D5 Cat with a brush rake on it. I just went through and laid them out,” said Hap. “Then after I had them all done, I walked every one of them with a cyclone seeder.”

Hap’s son Bob recalls some of the first trails. “One day we were making a drive and he decided that if we clear that alder brush out of there, maybe we could make a drive down there and it would be good,” said Bob. “So he jumped on his tractor and decided to get the brush hog.”

“You could hear him,” recalls Bob. Rocks, trees and whatever. He cleared everything out.”

Hap’s oldest son, Dave recalls a couple of times that Hap went and got the D-5 during deer season. “We still went on stand that night and got a couple of bucks,” said Dave. “Deer like fresh dirt.”   

Hap noted that they received the seed from the Deer Foundation for about 20 years.  The Johnsons mow all the tails with a six-foot brush hog. Hap mowed the trails up until last year, but Bob has taken over that duty. 

So what do Dave and Bob think of their amazing hunting property? “Cool,” said Dave. 

“It is absolutely fabulous,” added Bob. “My favorite hunting is for grouse and it is perfect. The trails have done wonders for the grouse habitat.”

Hap gave the hunting property to his children (and the taxes) recently with hopes that they will take care of it. “I feel honored to have received this gift and my job is to keep it up as well or better than he did,” said Bob.

Dave noted that paying the taxes on the property pales in comparison to the gift. 

The gift to the boys was important to Hap. He is quick to point out that he also received a gift—his deer stand. 

That deer stand is a dandy. It is equipped with a stair case and railing, a swivel chair, heaters and several shooting windows. “I told the kids one year, ‘Don’t get me anything for Christmas. Just build be a deer stand.’”

“That’s right,” said Dave. “He said build me one with steps. We all got together and built it.”

“The whole family and friends showed up,” added Bob. “Kids, grand kids and the spouses even came out and watched.”

Now, Hap returned the gift. He gave the land to his sons and daughters (Mary Jo and Kathy and grandchildren) so they can enjoy hunting for many years to come.

It was a “pay-it-back” moment.

History of the farm

Hap’s parents Earl and Doris Johnson homesteaded the farm in 1920. “They had one acre cleared,” said Hap, “with horses and dynamite. That barn was built by hand and all that lumber we sawed off this property. I was 11 years old when I was up pounding nails and helping them build.”

Hap didn’t stray far from the farm in his adult life either. After he got married, he lived in Duluth for a spell, working shifts. “I didn’t like that,” he said and returned to the farm to help his father farm and log.”

Hap eventually took over the logging business in 1956. 

Hap was a logger for 40 years, before his son Dave took it over 20 years ago. 

The hunting bunch includes several family members. In addition to Hap and Clyde, the hunting crew includes Dave, Bob, Tom and Bruce. The grandchildren are Dan, Kyle, Brandon and Matt and two great-grandchildren, Derek and Zeke have joined the hunt.

The hunting tradition started when Hap was 12 years old. “Grandpa didn’t hunt,” said Dave. “But dad was the one that really started the tradition when he shot his first doe at 14 years of age.”

“The tradition has a lot to do with dad, Clyde and their nephew Tom Klein who has been hunting on the property for 51 years and might have missed only one season,” said Bob.

Clyde recalls Tom hunting with an unloaded gun. “His dad wouldn’t let him carry a loaded gun,” said Clyde.

“He had a bullet,” said Dave. “And if he saw a deer, he would have to load it and then shoot it. It was a safety issue.”

The 18-point buck story is still etched in Hap’s mind. “I remember there was deep snow that year and we had a bunch from the cities,” Hap said like it was yesterday. “I remember looking back and there he was going across the field. I took a shot at him and darn if I didn’t miss him.”

Hap and Clyde followed the buck along the Artichoke River back in the days before trails. “There was swamp and brush,” recalls Hap. “Finally, Clyde hit it. Then he came up the hill and I leaned against a tree and I dropped him.”

“We drug him about 3/4 of a mile, but we were a lot younger then,” said Hap who was 41 years old at the time. Clyde was 33.

Recent hunting success

Hap heads to the Fort Myers area in Florida every winter, but not until he shoots his buck which usually happens at about 8:10 a.m. on opening morning.

“He has a history of having an itchy finger,” said Dave about his father’s lack of patience. “He fills anyone’s tag. His saying, ‘Oh, it’s a big one. We have to get it started.’”

“8:10 opening morning any year and I hear, ‘Booooom,’” said Bob. “And if he’s not close enough to yell, ‘Bobbbbbb!’ he’s dialing the phone, ‘I got it started.’” 

According to Bob, Hap doesn’t miss and it is tough to beat him to the first deer. This year, he took all day on the opener to shoot his buck. He shot a nice 6-pointer later in the evening. Clyde shot a fork horn. “The old guys are the only ones killing bucks out here,” noted Bob. “He is 83 years old, and he rarely misses.”

The following weekend Hap’s nephew, Tom Klien shot a nice 8-point, 184 pound buck on Saturday morning.

Last year, Tom shot a 215 pound buck and Reid Clark shot an 11-pointer that was 210 pounds. Bruce and Clyde shot 200 pound plus deer. 

Actually, every hunter at camp shot a buck last year except Bob.

“Last year was probably our best year ever,” shared Bob. “We had four deer over 200 pounds.”

“And one that was over 190 pounds,” added Dave.

Bob had his opportunities, but the Johnson’s try to manage the deer population. 

Dave, on the other hand, shot a fork horn and is still hearing about it. “I made a poor choice and heard about it from my son again just last weekend. We have more of a focus to let the little deer go and being selective,” said Dave. “When you manage your own land, you can help yourself.”

“It was 200 yards away and I was sure it was a six or more,” said Dave. “It wasn’t.”

There is still one more weekend left. Hap has his deer and is headed to Florida. The rest of the family is after a big one that is still out there. 

“We saw it,” said Bob.

“It was that close to being dead,” Dave said holding up his fingers an inch apart. “I put my finger on the trigger and it jumped off.”

Stay tuned... the buck might appear in a photo somewhere!