Beckie Gaskill

Recent Stories

Natural Resources Board hears proposal for changes to Wildlife Abatement and Claims Program

Brad Koele, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) northern district wildlife supervisor and former wildlife damage specialist came to the Natural Resources Board (NRB) with a final rule package for the Wildlife Damage Nuisance Control program, Chapter NR 12 of state statutes.

Vilas County land and water conservation committee forwards grant resolutions on to full county board

Last week, the Vilas County land and water conservation committee voted to forward on several resolutions from the department to the full county board. These resolutions involved grants for their boat decontamination program, a Lakes Monitoring effort and Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) awareness and education efforts.

Science on Tap reveals insect trends in Wisconsin

PJ Liesch, director of the University of Wisconsin Department of Entomology Diagnostic Lab, handles approximately 2,500 insect identification requests every year. He was the most recent presenter at Science on Tap in Minocqua, a program through Trout Lake Station in Boulder Junction.

Fish Like a GIRL

As many know, I used to call myself an accidental birder. I have always thought it was cool to watch birds at a feeder and to see them in the woods and whatnot. But in recent years, I have gotten into Project FeederWatch and have also done more reporting of observations and checklists of birds wherever I happen to be.

Wisconsin Bass Team Trail anglers battle wind on Winnebago Chain

The first weekend in October brought another Wisconsin Bass Team Trail season to a close, with anglers battling through some high winds on the Winnebago System. On day one, winds blew a stout 15-20 miles per hour out of the southwest.

Stars align for young hunter to bag first bear

Tyson Skubal, 17, of Hazehurst went bear hunting for the first time this year. But what makes the story a dream come true, was how the hunt happened. At the Northwoods Youth Deer Hunt Challenge banquet back in January, Skubal won a 30.06 rifle. That was a great surprise for him, but this summer, that surprise would get bigger and bigger. At the Northwoods Youth Deer Hunt Challenge, Skubal also put his name in a drawing for a bear tag that was donated by Vern Schaller.

New wolf conflicts in Oneida, Price counties

The list of wolf depredations and harassments is growing, and so far this year, Wisconsin residents have been involved in the third highest number of conflicts in decades. Only 2020 (102) and 2021 (108) saw more wolf conflicts throughout the entire year than the state has seen in 2024 so far. This number will likely rise at least through the end of the year.

What the heck is an umbrella rig?

The umbrella rig, or Alabama rig (A-rig) as some people call it, got its name because when hanging in the air, the five wires that hold a bait on them look much like the frame of an opened umbrella. At the end of each of the “arms” of the bait, there is a swivel and a snap.

Oneida County lakes classification project continues

The Oneida County land and water conservation department is currently working on a project to classify all of the 451 named lakes in the county. The primary goal of the project is to keep the county’s high quality waters at their current state.

Fish Like a GIRL

As I write this, I have stacks of tournament-related stuff all over my house as we prepare to head to the Winnebago System for our championship for the Wisconsin Bass Team Trail. We have a pretty limited field this time around, about five to 10 boats short of a normal field for us. But it is still a big tournament with money and bragging rights on the line. The winning team is also guaranteed a spot in the championship next year, which will be on the Minocqua Chain on the first weekend of October.

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