Outgoing Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources deer biologist Jeff Pritzl finally got to speak his mind bluntly after nearly 35 years with the agency, and his seasoned words were revealing and sensible.

Although he officially retired Feb. 2 because of his accumulation of paid time off, he turned over his state computer access and duties in December.

Government is rarely efficient, but when it happens, it is always a refreshing surprise.

At year’s end, I made the decision to buy and then apply for the transfer of a firearms silencer.

So did thousands — and perhaps tens of thousands — of gun owners and hunters in 42 states.

As 2025 winds down and a new year beckons, it’s a good time to reflect on your own successes and missteps both in the outdoors and in life.

Legendary PBS painter Bob Ross never made a mistake while painting during his long-running “The Joy of Painting” show. He only had “happy accidents.”

A 5-point buck finally fell to my recurve bow, and it was a combination of 51 years of patience and a happy accident.

Do you feel like a young bird dog squirming in anticipation with his first pheasant feather?

That’s the feeling I get right before opening day of the gun deer season, better known to hunters as the Most Important Day of the Year.

The best time of the year for bow and crossbow hunters is upon us, but if you drive through deer country or run an insurance agency during the rut, you may not be smiling.

The rut is simply the whitetail deer’s mating season. While there are actually a couple times when bucks chase does in heat, the primary rut in our area starts around Nov. 1 and continues for a week or two. There is a secondary rut in December.