Ross Bielema 19 February 2025

Love in low places

Love can appear in the most unlikely of places, but social media sensation Ed the Diver never expected that a waterlogged Barbie doll he pulled from the murky depths of the Shawano Dam would lead him to a real mermaid that captured his heart. Ed Bieber, a former Marinette farmer and electrician now known as Ed the Diver on multiple social media platforms, finds thousands of fishing lures and golf balls a year scrounging on the bottom of area rive
Ross Bielema 4 February 2025
Turkey fan plaque turns feathers into patented decoy
Darrell Bartel’s first turkey hunt didn’t go as planned, but it had an outcome he could never have foreseen. The Waupaca Foundry Inc. supervisor hunted with a co-worker who tried for three days to coax a gobbler to box and slate calls.
Ross Bielema 6 January 2025
Will sandhill crane season fly in Wisconsin?
Whether you prefer calling the sandhill crane a majestic migratory bird worthy of photos or the “ribeye in the sky” earning a spot on the dinner table next to the mashed potatoes, one thing is certain: this distinctive bird is plentiful. These 3-foot-tall, 10-pound birds with their distinctive rusty-gate call have moved a step closer to having a hunting season in Wisconsin, and biological evidence suggests there is no reason not to do so. A 12-me
Ross Bielema 26 December 2024
Christmastime bird counts tally our favorite feathered friends
By the time you read this, your Christmas boxes and wrapping paper will be stuffed in garbage bags, your kids will be bored with their gifts and you will be sick of the leftover turkey. But a certain group of wildlife lovers and their national organization will be continuing their annual effort to count turkeys, sparrows, hawks, owls and other birds. The National Audubon Society and its legions of members and friends are in the middle of the 125t
Ross Bielema 9 December 2024
New muzzleloader hunter shares ‘Late Season Deer’ reality show
I love reality shows that aren’t fake, or at least appear not to be fake.
Ross Bielema 5 November 2024
Up challenge, fun with handguns for deer hunt
America’s favorite game animal has a keen nose, ever-vigilant ears, eyes that detect the slightest movement and natural camouflage that seems to work better than the latest man-made patterns. For most of us, using a centerfire rifle, high-tech compound bow or high-speed crossbow is the proper weapon for outfoxing the white-tailed deer.
Ross Bielema 22 October 2024
Latest deer disease not potential threat of CWD
A deer virus already found in three Wisconsin counties this year may be spreading north because of milder winters, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. A deer found dead in Shawano County was recently tested for epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), a virus spread by biting midges in the Culicoides genus, better known as no-see-ums, said Nancy Businga, a DNR wildlife diseases specialist in Madison.
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