Ross Bielema 8 October 2024

Gathering tips from old-school, online sources

As the weather finally begins to turn cool and that early fall snap turns our minds to the outdoors, we start the never-ending process of getting our gear ready and fine-tuned. My process is probably a bit longer than most, for two reasons: I have accumulated mountains of hunting clothes, arrows, bows, broadheads, ground blinds and other junk, and I am also one of the most disorganized people I’ve ever met. As a problem arises in the field, the a
Ross Bielema 23 September 2024
Every hunter needs huntress — even if she stays home
As I grow old (I’m not sure about the wise part), I do more reflection on the important things in life, particularly my family and friends. I hit the big 65 milestone on Sept. 3 and another epic one on Sept. 19: 26 years of marriage. To the same person.
Ross Bielema 23 June 2024
Courts reject bans on arm braces, bump stocks
It’s easy to look the other way when someone else loses something you have no use or need for. It’s easy to suggest we all drive electric cars or ban V-8 motors if you don’t already own three or four gas-powered vehicles and don’t appreciate muscle cars or the pure fun of a drag race. It’s easy to oppose protests, speech or books that disagree with our own viewpoints, especially if they are extreme to us. If you don’t own any guns or even underst
Ross Bielema 17 August 2023
Off-roaders go civilized as more roads open
The simple $6,500 all-terrain vehicle with a motorcycle seat, a couple storage racks and a winch is being left in the dust by sophisticated utility terrain vehicles that include heat, air conditioning, stereos, seat belts, up to six seats and $35,000 price tags. As more counties and cities legalize both ATVs and their luxury UTV cousins on paved roads, Wisconsin residents are embracing the sight of these vehicles in towns and at restaurants, bars
Ross Bielema 19 June 2023
Sharks, mackerel provide Carolinas fishing action
I was waiting all morning to use the classic line from “Jaws”: “We’re gonna need a bigger boat.” When I finally started reeling in my first Atlantic sharp nose shark, I used it, although I’m not sure the 18-year-old first mate on board the Fish Hook I got the connection. Although Fish Hook Charters is based in North Myrtle Beach, we were actually fishing off the shore of North Carolina near Sunset Beach.
Ross Bielema 7 June 2023
Explosion spurs questions of pistol durability
For hundreds of years, firearms were made of two materials: steel and wood. Although Glock wasn’t the first pistol maker to use plastics in the construction of their firearms, they were one of the first to use them for the entire frame. To say that Glock started a trend in the mid-1980s with its striker-fired polymer pistols is like saying Apple started a trend with personal computers. Both were more like revolutions.
Ross Bielema 24 May 2023
Season 4 brings plenty of turkeys but few shots
If there was an action-packed video trailer of this column, it would show plenty of hens, jakes and tom turkeys running around plowed cornfields, sandhill cranes dancing, shots at a big tom on the ground and in the air, and me falling out of a folding stool (performed by my stunt double, of course) and rolling into the side of world’s smallest ground blind. I don’t have a name for this blockbuster movie yet, but the working title is “Season 4: Mo
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