Fish, hike and ride ATV trails for free this weekend

Why is something free so much better than the same things for a small cost?

If you are having a yard sale, people might ignore your dime and quarter items, but they’ll flock to the free table or box. At my workplace, we have a large table near the employee entrance that is called the Free Table. Just drop anything there that you want to get rid of and by the end of the day, it’s gone.

A fishing license or state parks pass are only a few dollars each (an annual resident fishing license is $20 and a state parks pass is $28), but this weekend, you can fish and explore the parks for free.

Most states have a Free Fishing Weekend, but Wisconsin topped that with Free Fun Weekend on Saturday and Sunday. You can also hike and bike the state’s trails and ride the public ATV trails for free, too. It’s the ultimate low-budget weekend for those strapped for cash — or for those who appreciate that the best things in life are free.

In addition to fishing on any of the state’s waters for free (no license needed), you can also fish for inland trout and Great Lakes trout and salmon without a trout stamp. Now the savings are starting to add up. Remember, though, all fishing regulations (including size and harvest limits) still apply.

Don’t I need a bunch of expensive fishing gear to catch some bluegills, crappies or walleyes, you may ask? Seriously? Are you Dutch? (I can say that because I am) Well, about 50 state parks will even loan you free fishing equipment and provide you with free fishing clinics to help you catch something. The closest clinic is one in Bukolt Park, Stevens Point, offered from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday for kids ages 4-13, and it includes free T-shirts. Visit dnr.wi.gov/topic/Fishing/AnglerEducation/FreeFishingWeekend.htm for details on this and other clinics.

Bear proposal

A proposal to allow bear hunting with dogs in the center of the state (including Shawano and Waupaca counties) has been struck down after opponents of the plan voiced their opinions May 22 at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Board meeting.

The board voted 6-1 in favor of removing bear hunting with dogs from what would be a newly formed Zone C in an overall revised bear management plan, according to the Associated Press. The state currently has four bear management zones, but that will change to six when the new plan is eventually implemented.

The DNR held a series of meetings and sought public comment through April 14 on the 87-page Wisconsin Bear Management Plan 2019-2029, which represents the first significant bear management changes since 1980.

Although supporters of the plan to allow bear hunting with dogs in Zone C argued that dogs already can be used for training in that area during July and August, opponents such as the Humane Society of the United States Wisconsin chapter won out, arguing that most of Zone C was private land and would create trespassing issues.

Bear hunting with dogs currently is allowed in the northern portions of the state, where huge tracts of national forests and lands owned by paper companies give the dogs room to roam in pursuit of bears.

Although the DNR board approved the overall management plan with the revision, it will take a few years to create new administrative rules and the earliest it could go into effect is the fall of 2021.

To see the final draft of the 87-page plan, visit dnr.wi.gov/topic/Hunt/documents/BearPlanFinalDraft.pdf

A record 124,053 people applied for a bear permit or preference point in 2018. The DNR estimates the Wisconsin black bear population at about 30,000 animals.

Ross Bielema is a freelance writer from New London and owner of Wolf River Concealed Carry LLC. Contact him at Ross@wolfriverccw.com.