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
eBird provides big data to help with big problems
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
2025 championship to return to Minocqua
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
Both gun and tag were won at Northwoods Youth Deer Hunt Challenge
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?
Great bait for fall fishing
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
Tournament season is wrapping up
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.
Upper Midwest Bass Challenge Series anglers compete in their last Tournament of Champions
Turtle Flambeau Flowage shows its strength as a bass fishery
The Upper Midwest Bass Challenge Series anglers from three divisions took on the Turtle Flambeau Flowage at the end of last month. Sixty teams competed over two days to bring in the heaviest five fish per day. Totals from each day were tallied and it would take over 30 pounds to even get into the top 13.
Wolf conflicts up from last year
Depredation and abatement payments do not cover total costs
This year Wisconsin hunters, farmers and residents of the northern half of the state have seen more wolf conflicts than in almost any year. According to Laurie Groskopf from Wisconsin Wolf Facts, this year has already seen the third highest number of reported conflicts.
DNR Wolf tracking program classes offered this fall
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is once again offering their carnivore tracking classes to individuals interested in volunteering for their snow tracking surveys. The DNR has used volunteer trackers for many years.
Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund helps fish and wildlife
Donations can be made with license purchases
National Resources Foundation Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund committee members are currently working on selecting grant winners for the program from a list of well-deserving applicants. This endowment provides a permanent source of funding for projects on the state’s public lands.
Boom Lake anglers register impressive weights at Rod Gaskill Memorial Bass Tournament
Major changes announced for 2025 tournament
The Rod Gaskill Memorial Bass Tournament saw attendance dip a bit this year, but almost 40 anglers still took to Boom Lake in the hopes of bringing in the heaviest five bass of the day. Gaskill was an avid bass angler that moved to the area from Las Vegas, Nevada in the mid 1990s.
Fish Like a GIRL
Attending writing workshops
As I write this, I am coming to the end of two week-long writing summits. Both were held online, with a somewhat different format. One, the Writing Brave Summit, held live sessions, which were pre-recorded, but the presenter in each session joined the group in the chat during the presentation, which I thought was a neat add-on feature. It allowed attendees to talk to the presenters in real time while listening to their session presentation.
112 teams compete in Shoeder’s RV & Marine Hodag Musky Challenge
Musky anglers fishing the Shoeder’s RV & Marine Hodag Musky Challenge can choose from many lakes around the Rhinelander area. Boom Lake and the Wisconsin River, The Moens Chain, Pelican Lake, Lake George, Crescent Lake, Bearskin Lake, Lake Julia and the Sugar Camp Chain are all available for teams to fish. Top prize in the two-day tournament is $10,000. There are also monetary prizes for the largest musky, the largest northern and there is one random winner from all of the winners of largest fish on each lake.
DNR deer advisory committee looks at deer management unit configurations
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) deer program specialist Jeff Pritzl lead the latest DNR deer advisory committee meeting with one of the main agenda items being the possible reconfiguration of Deer Management Units (DMUs).
‘Significant Other’ tournament anglers have fun on Manitowish Waters Chain
This was the fourth year of the You and Your Significant Other Bass Tournament on the Manitowish Waters Chain. Tournament organizer Yeng Thao of Wausau said his wife had been asking to fish a tournament with him for years.
Fall is a good time to check for invasive species on aquatic gear
This is the time of year that lake property owners are spending time taking out their piers, swim rafts and other equipment that has been in the lake since spring. It is time to get things winterized and cleaned up to put back in next spring. But it is also a good time to do a quick check for any possible aquatic invasive species.
Wolf killed by duck hunter on opening day
DNR confirms self-defense
Saturday morning of the Northern Zone duck season brought a terrifying incident to a group of young hunters in the Northwoods. The incident took place as Chase Melton and two of his cousins, ages 13 and 14, were in their duck blind.
Waterfowl hunters can help stop the spread of invasive species
People often think about invasive species when launching their fishing boat or pulling the pontoon out to take it to another lake. But waterfowl hunters, too, can potentially move Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) from one place to another. Boats, blinds, decoys and even humans and their four-legged friends can move both aquatic and terrestrial invasive species (TIS) from one place to another.
Fish Like a GIRL
It is time to fly
Back in the 80s sometime, a band called REO Speedwagon had a song called “Time for me to Fly.” It was a good tune, and still is. If birds could choose any song to sing, this is the time of year they may choose that one.
Oneida County land and water conservation committee look at 2025 department budget, grant resolutions
At this month’s Oneida County land and water conservation committee meeting, committee members were presented with the proposed 2025 fiscal year budget for the land and water conservation department.
Oneida County forestry committee considers request for bridge dedication, multi-use trails
At its September meeting, the Oneida County forestry committee discussed separate agenda items regarding trails in the county. One was a request from the Pel-Cho Mudd Nutz ATV Club.
Legislators discuss wolf issues in northern Wisconsin
Arguably, no other species of wildlife in Wisconsin is currently as controversial as the wolf. Many in the north, and even in Central Wisconsin, live with wolves every day, and the problems seem to be more frequent in many locations than in the past.
Dingell-Johnson Act helps sport fish, fisheries and helps to improve boating access
The Dingell-Johnson Act is also called the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act. It is a federal law that “authorizes assistance to states and territories fo sport fishery projects, boat access facilities, and aquatic education programs,” according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Anglers compete in two-day Up/Down tournament
Rod Gaskill Memorial Bass Tournament up next
The Wisconsin Bass Team Trail hosts bass tournaments across the Northwoods and down into Central Wisconsin. Each year the trail organizes four qualifier tournaments where anglers compete not only for cash and prizes, but for a place in the two-day championship.
Fish Like a GIRL
See something, say something — a conversation about mental health
This column may be a bit more controversial than my columns usually are. But honestly, I don’t think it should be. Recently, Lakeland Union High School in Minocqua was locked down with a report of an armed intruder. Thankfully, it turned out to be a false alarm, thankfully. But other high schools have not been as lucky already this year.
Vilas County land and water conservation committee looks at cost share program, hears grant resolutions
Last week the Vilas County land and water conservation committee met for their regular monthly meeting. One of the topics they took up was whether or not to increase their maximum reimbursement for their cost share program. This program helps landowners to offset costs of various projects with the objective of improving shorelines or other improvements that would have a positive environmental impact.
Finding a tree stand location by scouting
When it comes to location for a deer stand, most hunters would agree habitat and topography both play a role in perfect placement. Proper scouting well before the season starts can help a hunter find the best place to locate their stand. Deer movements change throughout the year, so knowing where they will be by the time the hunting season opens is easier when a hunter has taken the time to follow the deer’s movements.
2024 deer season outlook has some hunters feeling positive
Even with concerns still looming about the deer numbers in the Northwoods, the extremely mild winter last year have many hunters feeling positive about the opening of archery season.
Will Northern Wisconsin see new deer management units next year?
According to Oneida County Deer Advisory Council (CDAC) chairman Ed Choinski, the Oneida CDAC has been asking for a change in deer management unit boundaries. When the CDACs were established, the old system of deer management units (DMUs) went by the wayside and deer herds were instead managed along county boundaries.
Be safe when hunting from an elevated deer stand
Many hunters choose to use some sort of elevated stand when hunting. This comes with several benefits, but it poses a need for caution as well. Each year, hunters are injured or worse while climbing into or out of a stand, or by falling from the stand while hunting.
Baiting and feeding bans still in place across the Northwoods
Hunters are reminded that baiting and feeding bans are still in place across the Northwoods. By state statute, passed in 2017, any time a cervid is found to be positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD), the county in which the animal was harvested would be under a three-year ban of feeding and baiting deer.
Fish Like a GIRL
Preserving those cool morning memories
Anyone who knows me knows that I am all about preserving memories of times with family and friends. I seldom go anywhere without a camera, even though my cell phone holds likely more photos than is right. I take hundreds of photographs at every fishing tournament I attend or run. We do not get these days back, and I think it is great to be able to save all the digital memories we possibly can.
Hunters urged to follow meat and carcass transport rules this deer season
Hunters who hunt in CWD-affected counties that are not bringing their harvested animal to a licensed taxidermist of permitted meat processor within 72 hours of harvest are restricted on the portions of meat that may be transported beyond the line of the county of harvest or the adjacent county.
Processing deer with an eye on CWD, other health concerns
With chronic wasting disease (CWD) being found in the wild white-tailed deer herd in the Northwoods in recent years, some hunters are concerned over processing their deer and keeping themselves and their families safe from the disease.
Bear hunting with dogs: tradition and controversy
What others need to know as season begins next week
Bear hunting with dogs is part of the heritage of Northern Wisconsin. While it is not without critics and contention, the fact remains that it is a legal means of hunting. It should be noted that there are laws against harassing a sportsman, and those interfering with a hunter’s legal pursuit of game can be charged. This includes, but is not limited to:
Early teal and goose season in progress
Earlier this week, early teal and goose season opened up for Wisconsin hunters. The early teal season runs through Sept. 9 and early goose season runs through Sep. 15. The bag limit for this season is five Canada geese and targets Wisconsin’s resident geese, before the fall migrating birds come through the state.
Swimmers could fall victim to ‘swimmer’s itch’ in the Northwoods
Recently there have been several reports of “swimmer’s itch” on social media from across the Northwoods. Swimmer’s itch is a rash that appears shortly after a person swims or wades in a lake or river. It is most common in freshwater, but has been seen in salt water as well. Properly chlorinated pools offer no risk of infection from swimmer’s itch.
What is Pittman-Robertson money and what does it do?
The Pittman Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act is a wildlife restoration program that accrues funding through a tax on the sale of hunting equipment such as shotguns, rifles, hand guns and archery equipment. It provides funding for states and territories to support a variety of things such as wildlife conservation and restoration as well as hunter education and safety programs.
Fish Like a GIRL
On being a ‘cat mom’ — 60 days in
Yes, I am aware of the debate. Some people call themselves a “pet parent,” and other people find the term ridiculous. “They’re animals, not children!” Those people cry. Meh. Calm down. Honestly, if I have to ensure a being gets food, water, play, exercise and also that they are safe and that they learn the right things, it might be a whole lot easier in many aspects with a pet, but I will still always call myself a “pet mom.”
User groups will share woods, waters as hunting seasons start
The weather is still great for hiking, biking, and other silent sports such as kayaking. But September also marks the beginning of several hunting seasons.
2024 Hunting season dates
Sept. 1 Common gallinule Early Canada goose Early teal Mourning dove Rail Snipe
Stafsholt calls for audit of fish and wildlife account as deficit looms
Earlier this year, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced it would have a $16 million deficit in the Fish and Wildlife Account by the year 2026. The announcement prompted considerable concern.
Wisconsin Bass Team Trail anglers end regular season at Manitowish Waters Chain
Team of the Year decided in a close race
The last stop of the regular season for the WBTT was on the Manitowish Waters Chain today. Teams started out the year on Lake Mohawksin in Tomahawk with a mostly smallmouth tournament.
No bad time for a spinner bait
Spinner baits are versatile baits. They allow an angler to fish anywhere in the water column. They are also a great search bait, allowing an angler to cover a lot of water quickly. As with many other baits, spinner baits come in a variety of styles and sizes. Their main purpose is to imitate a bait fish, or a small school of bait fish.
Fish Like a GIRL
I am falling for fall
I am ready for fall. I have had enough of the heat and I’m ready for fall hoodies and a big old pot of venison chili. I still look forward to hunting season, even if I don’t get out as much as I used to.
Wisconsin Conservation Congress Oneida County delegation looks for funding from county
Delegate reimbursement, funded for 45 years, suddenly stopped this year
Earlier this year, Ed Choinski, the chair of the Oneida County delegation to the Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC), appeared before the land and water conservation committee to discuss reimbursements for delegates attending the annual Conservation Congress convention. This reimbursement, totally approximately $2,500, had been distributed for 45 years until this year.
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