Fish Like a GIRL
What the pros are using, and Forward Facing Sonar (FFS) part 2
Every angler is always interested in learning what the pros are using. We all want the “next best thing,” or the “hottest bait to hit the market in years.”
The time to be ‘bear aware’ comes early this year
Early bear sightings likely to not increase mortality
The lack of cold temperatures and snow this year has some species a little confused, one might say. Some animals that would rarely be seen in February have been seen in the woods and along road sides.
Vilas County announces county park user fees for 2024
Last year Vilas County implemented a user access fee for all vehicles entering county parks and using county landings. From May 1 to Oct. 31 all vehicles entering county parks or using county landings to access lakes and rivers are required to purchase a permit. Daily and seasonal permits are available. Fees from these permits are used for improvements and maintenance of those parks and landings.
Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership presentation looks at fresh water salinization
In a recent Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership presentation, Hillary Dugan, a limnologist at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, looked at what is known, and what is not known, about fresh water salinization. Fresh water salinization is defined as the process of salty runoff contaminating aquatic ecosystems. It can harm those ecosystems as well as contaminate drinking water.
Natural Resources Board hears 2023-24 deer season recap
At the February Natural Resources Board (NRB) meeting, several staff from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) presented information regarding the 2023-24 deer season.
Spring hearings questions reviewed by Natural Resources Board
Bureau of Fisheries Management offers up seven questions
Each year the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) team up for their Annual Spring Hearings. Those hearings are held in each county on the second Monday of April. This year, in person hearings will be held again, starting at 6 p.m. on April 8.
Fish Like a GIRL
Wishin’ I was fishin’
It is likely obvious from the title of my column every week, not to mention much of my content, but I am into fishing just a little bit. I have actually cut back my tournament schedule in the last few years.
Stop Spiny! Campaign looks to raise awareness, prevent spread, of invasive spiny water flea
Zach Stewart of the Douglas County surface waters program spoke in a recent webinar about the Stop Spiny! campaign that looked at raising awareness to spiny water flea and the harm it could cause to lake ecosystems.
Non resident crossbow and archery hunting license fee increase enacted into law
There has been much discussion for a number of years regarding license fees in the state. It has been many years since there have been increases in those fees.
NAISMA presentation looks at climate conditions and the fight against invasive species
Carrie Lima-Brown of the NY Invasive Species Research Institute at Cornell started the recent North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) presentation with an overview of invasive species and climate change. She spoke about the indicators as they relate to invasive species.
Lake States Forest Management Bat Habitat Conservation Plan released
Recently the Departments of Natural Resources from Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin collectively developed a Lake States Forest Management Bat Habitat Conservation Plan (Lake States HCP).
Wisconsin Wildlife Federation to head coalition to address fish and wildlife fund deficit
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently announced it expected a $16 million deficit in its fish and wildlife account by 2026.
Land use affects stream and river health
What it means to fish and other organisms
Every angler understands the need to keep streams and rivers healthy. A recent presentation from The Citizen Lake Monitoring Network, in combination with Water Action Volunteers, looked at the factors that affect stream and river health.
Northwoods moose no longer on the loose
Moose’s bones found on land where he often roamed
For the last three years, a moose has been wandering through the Northwoods. On June 25, 2020, Keith Warning said he saw the moose’s tracks for the first time on his property near the western side of Minocqua. The last time he saw the moose, he said, was Oct. 28 of 2022.
Changes in climate affect biocontrol efforts
Challenges posed for resource managers
Recently Carrie Brown-Lima spoke at a Northeast Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (RISCC) Management Network presentation regarding changes in climate and how those changes may affect biocontrol agents and their hosts.
Fish Like a GIRL
No easy answers in shortfall of fish and wildlife account
This week I wrote about the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation heading a coalition looking to address the deficit in the Department of Natural Resources fish and wildlife account.
Ice conditions continue to be variable
Conditions can deteriorate quickly at this time of year
Although there was some snow and temperatures did drop a bit in the Northwoods in recent days, the return of warmer weather has likely negated any benefits that weather had on ice conditions on area lakes.
Lumberjack RC&D funds six projects for 2024
Last week Lumberjack Resources Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council met last week for their regular quarterly meeting. At the February meeting, which was postponed from January, the council considered six projects from around the northern portion of the state for funding.
Hunter Nation holds information sessions on wolf management and the state’s current wolf management plan
Hunter Nation recently held two open house listening sessions regarding wolves and wolf management. One of those was earlier this month in Antigo.
Timing of prescribed burns yields varying results
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) just announced their prescribed burns for this year in a recent press release. Late winter and early spring are traditionally when prescribed burns take place.
Fish Like a GIRL
Going through the tackle bag from last year
Whether it is a tackle bag, a tackle box or a whole boat, this is the time of year we, as anglers, go through everything we carried around all year last year.
Oneida County land and water conservation committee consider PFAS, enhanced wake resolution
The Oneida County land and water conservation committee looked at two of the biggest hot button issues in the state Monday at their regular monthly meeting: PFAS and enhanced wakes. Several members of the public spoke regarding their feelings of the county’s enhanced wake resolution and the changes that had been made to that resolution.
Chew on This!
I feel like everyone has their favorite kielbasa recipe. Sometimes just throwing chunks in a pan with some potatoes is fine. Kielbasa is super versatile, and one of my favorite soups is pea soup, so putting those two things together seemed like a natural to me. It makes for an interesting flavor change up from the typical ham based soup. So I thought I would provide both of those recipes here today.
Using dogs to help detect Chronic Wasting Disease
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is an always-fatal neurological disease affecting cervids such as white tailed deer. In recent years, CWD has been found in both the wild and captive deer herd in the Northwoods.
Verified wolf threat in Arbor Vitae
Early Monday morning Nick Krueger was awakened by his hunting dogs barking outside.
How do nitrates effect public health?
Citizen science program Nitrate Watch raises awareness
A recent Nitrate Watch webinar from the Izaak Walton League of America featured David Cwiertny from the Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination. Cwiertny spoke about public health effects of nitrates. While many believe one of the only issues is “blue baby” syndrome, but there are other issues as well.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces national recovery plan for gray wolves
Triggers two-year delay in state management
Over the last two decades, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has repeatedly indicated the gray wolf is no longer in need of protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Fish Like a GIRL
Developing the next ten-year county land and water management plan for Vilas County
I was asked by the Vilas County Land and Water Conservation Department to be on their local advisory committee to give input on the next 10-year land and water management plan for the county.
Bill requiring wolf population number heads to Governor Evers’ desk
The management of any wildlife species is a point of contention for one group or another, but the management of wolves in the state is arguably the most contentious.
Wolf population bill sent to governor
The management of any wildlife species often becomes a point of contention for one group or another, but the management of wolves in the state is arguably the most contentious.
Natural Resources Board approves bear quota for 2024
Wisconsin Conservation Congress recommends higher quota in Zones A and B
As is customary every year, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) came to the Natural Resources Board (NRB) for approval of the black bear harvest quotas for the fall hunting season. Wildlife bureau director Eric Lobner spoke to the board and first gave a review of the 2023 season.
Spring hearings offer in-person option for 2024
Citizen resolutions are one way to have stakeholder voices effect change
Each year the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) hold what are known as the Spring Hearings. In these hearings, stakeholders are asked to weigh in on a number of natural resource related proposals. The meetings are held on the second Monday in April in each county.
Proposed bills would impact natural resources, hunters and other sportsmen
Several pieces of proposed legislation in the current session have bearing on those in the outdoor sporting community. Here is a brief look at several of those bills.
Mike Engleson talks riparian rights at Winter Water Talk
The Citizen Lake Monitoring Network and the Water Action Volunteers partner in a series of webinars entitled Winter Water Talks. The most recent edition featured Mike Engleson, executive director of Wisconsin Lakes, who spoke about riparian water rights.
Fish Like a GIRL
Groundhog Day and the season that was not — so far
Groundhog Day! It always reminds me of the movie with Bill Murray. Lately the weather has been reminiscent of that as well. Still too warm.
EPA taking a closer look at impacts of pesticide approvals on threatened and endangered species
Works to integrate ESA
Last week Brian Anderson, associate director of the Environmental Fate and Effects Division Office of Pesticide Programs from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), spoke at a North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) presentation regarding pesticide use and considerations for endangered or threatened species.
World Championship Musky Classic draws to a close after nearly five decades
In 1977, North Lakeland Elementary School administrator Bill Sherer spoke with community education director Ken Reinicke about the potential for the school to support the economy in the area in some way.
Legislators seek to suspend doe hunt in Northern Forest Zone
A preliminary draft bill was introduced this month that would change deer hunting in the Northern Forest Zone. Last month, Representatives Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander) and Calvin Callahan (R-Tomahawk) partnered with Senator Mary Felzkowski (R-Tomahawk) to put together a deer hunt listening session in Woodruff.
Fish Like a GIRL
Who wins at the bird feeder?
“Hey! Why can’t you just be nice?” It is usually a comment more than a question, and I cannot be the only bird watcher that has ever asked the question to a “bully” bird outside the window.
Lawmakers want to suspend doe hunt in Northern Forest Zone
A preliminary draft bill has been introduced that would change deer hunting in the Northern Forest Zone. Last month, state representatives Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander) and Calvin Callahan (R-Tomahawk) partnered with state Sen. Mary Felzkowski (R-Tomahawk) to organize a deer hunt listening session in Woodruff.
Session takes a dive into aerial insectivores
Population declines could be linked to specific, larger insects
At last year’s Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Conference, Bill Mueller, director emeritus for the Western Great Lakes Bird and Bat Observatory spoke about aerial insectivores, or species who capture their insect prey in mid flight. Unlike species like robins, swallows, whippoorwills, night hawks and chimney swifts, all capture their prey in mid air, even though they are not closely related or, in some instances, related at all. However, they do have that one thing in common, he said.
Free fishing weekend is this weekend
Each year the Department of Natural Resources holds two Free Fishing Weekends. One is in June and the other, right now, is in January.
2024 Wetland Science Conference now open for registration
The 2024 Wetland Science Conference will be held in Green Bay at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center again this year on February 20-23, 2024.
Now is a good time to find, make a plan to destroy emerald ash borer
According to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) was first found in southeast Michigan in 2002. In 2008, EAB was detected in Ozaukee and Washington counties in Wisconsin.
Fish Like a GIRL
Ding! Round two of gardening underway
This will be my second year gardening at our new home. Year two or, as I call it, round two, should prove to be somewhat more productive and organized.
Chew on This!
Slow cooker sweet N sour pork
With snow and cold finally making their way to the Northwoods, winter enthusiasts will be out enjoying their favorite pursuits, whether that is snow shoeing, ice fishing, fat tire biking or (hopefully soon) snowmobiling, it is always great to come in from a day outdoors to a piping hot meal ready to enjoy.
Getting to know Wisconsin’s semi-aquatic fur bearers, part II
As part of the Water Action Volunteers (WAV) program citizen science opportunity, to keep volunteers engaged and interested over the winter months, the program puts out what are called Winter Water Talks.
Crappies through the ice make for a fun day and an even better dinner
Crappies are arguably some of the best fish to eat when caught out of cold water in the winter. Shore lunches and snowball fights make crappie fishing a day of fun for the whole family. But how do anglers find crappies through the ice?
Fish Like a GIRL
What the heck is a CDAC?
In the decade that I have been an outdoor writer, I have talked quite a bit about County Deer Advisory Councils, or CDACs. Because I attend those meetings in Oneida and Vilas County every year, I feel as though “most” people know about CDACs, what they are, who makes up those councils, and what they are charged with doing where the state’s deer populations are involved. I suppose it can be said by anyone about any topic about which they are passionate.
Getting to know Wisconsin’s aquatic furbearers - Part one: Beavers, more than just a wide, flat tail
The Water Action Volunteers (WAV) program is a citizen science opportunity where volunteers monitor streams throughout the state collecting data on things such as flow velocity, dissolved oxygen, water transparency, invasive species and biotic indexes.