Ross Bielema - Outdoors

Instructors say DNR decision to waive field tests creates unsafe hunters afield

Published by admin on Wed, 11/11/2020 - 7:37pm

Some hunter safety volunteer instructors around the state are angry that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources eliminated the need for students under age 18 to take a field course before getting certification to hunt on their own.

This means that thousands of young, first-time hunters could take to the deer woods this fall with no practical experience and no field testing. This hands-on testing often weeds out up to 10% of unsafe students who are putting their finger on the trigger or sweeping a rifle barrel at someone, longtime instructors say.

Pandemic’s silver lining is more hunters afield

Published by admin on Wed, 11/11/2020 - 7:35pm

The COVID-19 pandemic that has disrupted our lives in so many ways has adversely affected the physical and mental health of some and closed schools, small businesses and so many of our social, musical and theatrical events.

But the silver lining is that we’ve had more time to spend with our families at home and, for those who have either lost their jobs or seen furloughs or reduced hours, more time for recreation outdoors.

Avian flu can spread from wild turkeys to domestic poultry

Published by admin on Wed, 03/18/2020 - 3:18pm

We interrupt this continuing report on coronavirus and links to the CDC’s 21-part video series on the proper way to wash hands in order to bring you this exclusive report on a virus you’ve probably never heard of.

This virus can spread from wild turkeys and other wild birds to domestic poultry, making domestic chickens and pet birds very sick or even killing them.

Avian influenza, also called “bird flu,” is a respiratory disease caused by an influenza type A virus, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website.

Remaining spring turkey licenses go on sale Monday

Published by admin on Wed, 03/11/2020 - 3:01pm

As I chopped away at the melting mountains of snow in my driveway Sunday with my Polaris Sportsman 500 6 x 6 and 5-foot snow blade, I couldn’t believe turkey season was about a month away.

I’ve hunted turkeys in the snow on several occasions, and it just doesn’t fit that traditional image as portrayed in the outdoors magazines. You know, a green meadow with three or four strutting gobblers, a couple $100 Avian-X decoys and a hunter in full camo, who is aiming his $2,000 turkey shotgun and trying to decide which gobbler has the longest beard.

Tech offers tactical classes that could save lives

Published by admin on Thu, 02/27/2020 - 10:46am

You’ve probably heard of colossal wastes of tax money, like $600 hammers and $800 toilet seats (both by the military, no less), and I’m often skeptical of tax referendums, which are usually for new schools. (It’s no secret that enrollment is dropping nationwide, because Americans are not reproducing very fast.)

Sturgeon spearing on Lake Poygan: 30 hours by the hole

Published by admin on Thu, 02/20/2020 - 2:16pm

It’s strange what you start thinking when you’ve been staring down a sturgeon spearing hole for hours.

An old Humble Pie tune came to mind: “30 Days in the Hole.” This 1972 tune from the band’s album “Smokin’” talks about someone getting caught with drugs and earning a jail sentence: “30 days in the hole.”

Thin ice, fewer spearers stretch sturgeon season

Published by admin on Thu, 02/13/2020 - 10:56am

The entire effort of spearing a lake sturgeon through the ice hinges on a single toothpick.

Holding Randy Lee’s heavy, handmade stainless-steel spear head to the metal end of a long wooden spear handle is a toothpick that is slid through holes in each piece. When the spear is thrown toward a swimming sturgeon, handle and spear stay together. A twist of the handle separates the two when the toothpick breaks, allowing the fish to be dragged up and inside the shanty by a rope. A second, tethered rope keeps the handle from sinking to the bottom.

Crossbow issue to draw comments at survey

Published by admin on Thu, 02/06/2020 - 9:14am

The state’s crossbow deer hunters are cranking up for a battle to save their sport after a surprise attack launched by the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board.

The board has proposed an Oct. 1-31 crossbow season for those without disabilities and under age 60, with the suggestion on the spring public questionnaire of the joint Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Congress hearings held in every county. Those with a disabled permit or over age 60 would be able to continue using a crossbow during the full archery season.

Board recommends extended gun deer season

Published by admin on Wed, 01/29/2020 - 10:43pm

If you weren’t happy with Earn-a-Buck, wait until you read some of the questions on this spring’s Wisconsin Conservation Congress and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources advisory questionnaire.

In fact, one of the 37 advisory questions from the grassroots Conservation Congress suggests returning Earn-a-Buck — a previously tried and rejected system that required hunters to first shoot an antlerless deer before being allowed to shoot a buck — to the DNR as a management tool.

Explore some public lands and get your heart pumping this winter

Published by admin on Sat, 01/25/2020 - 8:00am

If you are getting outdoors at all and doing any sort of exercise this winter, I applaud you.

Getting about 6 inches of the white stuff dumped on my little section of Google Earth is one thing, but when our little digital weather station starts dipping down below zero, I just want to pull a blanket over my head and peek out about Groundhog Day.

If I see it’s still below zero, I’ll threaten to stay indoors motionless for six more weeks — but someone will have to go get me the special deal on McDonald’s burgers. Are they still doing that?