Ross Bielema - Outdoors

Hunter, angler recruitment gets help from state grants

Published by admin on Fri, 12/13/2019 - 10:00am

Our sport’s in trouble, sure, but what are you going to do about it?

Hunting’s been on the decline for decades now. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates there were 11.5 million hunters in the nation in 2016, or about 4 percent of the population. Hunting numbers peaked in 1982, when there were about 17 million hunters.

Field dressing’s toughest task may be unnecessary

Published by admin on Sat, 12/07/2019 - 8:00am

The dust is settling on another Wisconsin gun deer season, and as always, there are two general discussion camps: Where are all the deer or what a great season it was.

My able-bodied sports editor said he had the first discussion covered. No matter how many deer are ultimately harvested, I’ve never had a season I didn’t enjoy. I hope that’s the case for you, too.

Extend deer season with muzzleloading rifle

Published by admin on Wed, 11/27/2019 - 2:03pm

Thousands of Wisconsin deer hunters will be wrapping up their 2019 season this weekend, but for those of us who use muzzleloading rifles, the fun’s just begun.

While many will be packing away their semi-autos, bolt-actions and lever-actions after Sunday’s hunt, blackpowder hunters will be gearing up for 10 more days of deer hunting, Dec. 2-11.

The magic of gun deer hunting begins Saturday

Published by admin on Wed, 11/20/2019 - 4:37pm

Saturday's the day thousands of us deer hunters have been waiting for and preparing for the past few weeks and even months. Opening day is magical, and with every early-morning shot, our pulses increase and we glance through the trees, waiting for that flash of brown and white.

State biologists tell us there are 1.8 million deer running through the forests, woodlots and swamps of Wisconsin, but we only want a crack at one. Maybe it will be the biggest buck of our life, or maybe just a fat doe for the freezer, but it will be special.

Wisconsin gears up for gun deer season

Published by admin on Thu, 11/14/2019 - 2:41pm

There’s a wooden, covered box about 3 feet square now sitting at the corner of state Highway 96 and County Road W in Readfield, just waiting for hunters to drop off their deer hides.

It’s a project of the Medina-Dale-Readfield Lions Club, which does various community projects with money raised from the deer hides.

That worn wooden box is just one example of something you wouldn’t find in most states. Thankfully, Wisconsin isn’t like most states when it comes to deer season.

DNR to host meeting on Wolf River management plan

Published by admin on Thu, 10/31/2019 - 4:58pm

Those with a love for the Wolf River, considered one of America’s most pristine and natural waterways, will have a chance to learn more about its future Tuesday at an informational meeting in Shawano.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources meeting on the recently completed draft of the Wolf River Water Resources Management Plan will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Shawano Community High School.

Report shows crossbow use recruits new hunters

Published by admin on Fri, 10/25/2019 - 12:00pm

Wisconsin deer hunters have embraced the crossbow as the preferred weapon of choice during the state’s archery season, and an extensive state study has shown that this modern harvest tool has also helped both recruit and retain hunters that might not otherwise hunt.

The report, compiled by several Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources staff, was publicly released prior to the Oct. 22 DNR Board meeting when it was to be discussed.

Traditional bows return bowhunters to a nostalgic era

Published by admin on Fri, 10/18/2019 - 12:00pm

What’s the most powerful force in nature? Is it sex? Hunger? Thirst? The desire for love and to be loved?

As I grow older and more philosophical, I feel a longing for the good-old days. Call it nostalgia.

Those of us who have reached the ripe old age of 50 or 60 (I turned 60 on Sept. 3) have had many experiences, good and bad. We’ve seen some amazing things, especially in the natural world.

Try fall mushrooms for a wild delicacy

Published by admin on Fri, 10/04/2019 - 12:00pm

As I’ve said many times before, technology and I don’t always get along. Facebook’s been a fun way to reach out to current friends as well as old friends from high school, but it’s also been a colossal time-waster.

Wind, solar energy contribute to bird decline

Published by admin on Thu, 09/26/2019 - 4:53pm

It’s funny and sad when the do-gooders or the animal-rights nuts claim to be doing something great for nature or the ecosystem, but we learn their efforts are actually making things worse.

Most of them think hunting, fishing, trapping and even training a hunting dog to hunt are bad for wildlife, but they have no clue that their shopping malls and gated communities have destroyed vast habitats for both game and non-game species.