Blake Richard
Recent Stories
Rice restoration efforts at Spur Lake State Natural Area
Twenty thousand years ago, when the glacier over northern Wisconsin slowly receded north, a chunk of it broke off and got lodged in the ground about five miles south of Three Lakes. Eventually, temperatures warmed and that giant ice cube that was left behind melted to form what is now known as Spur Lake State Natural Area.
Hardwoood Hearings
In all my towering love of the Northwoods, deer hunting admittedly never really left a rut in my repertoire of desired activities. I’ve harvested a few deer and enjoy the time outside and traditional family and friend company, but without a doubt would rather be holding a shotgun or camera eyeing up my feather obsession.
Conclusion of CDAC meetings
The Citizen Deer Advisory Council (CDAC) meetings have concluded for Deer Management Unit (DMU) 117 and 120, which make up most of the rest of Vilas and Oneida counties with DMUs 116, 121, and 122.
A peeping proclamation
Our ephemeral residents have begun their cacophony of amphibious acoustics, and I have followed their serenade to the topographies of true.
Fire for fowl
Any woods walker who wanders the trunks this time of year can hear the crunchy needles or leaves beneath them. Before any substantial amount of rain saturates our forests and before any new green growth sprouts to the sky and shades the understory, fire season engulfs our arid and fuel-rich landscape.
Rhinelander team wins dartball state championship
Rhinelander’s McDonald Bus Service dartball team, captained by Jeff McDonald, shot a bullseye — or hit a home run rather — in the 2026 State Dartball Tournament, taking home the Class C championship after defeating Balz Inn of Athens last month at the Central Wisconsin Convention and Expo Center in Rothschild.
General fishing season to open May 2
The wait is over for the anglers who have anticipated getting back on the open water of more than 15,000 inland lakes across the state to cast their crankbaits with the hopes of reeling in a big one. As anglers head out for the general fishing season opener tomorrow, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds residents to check updated regulations for the 2026-27 season. There’s an abundance of lake specific changes across the state, as well as new season frameworks for inland trout and muskie.
Deer management unit 116 CDAC meeting
With the statewide Citizen Deer Advisory Council (CDAC) meetings wrapping up, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Deer Advisory Committee will soon review CDAC harvest quota and season framework recommendations. Towards the end of May, the DNR administration will review harvest quota and season framework recommendations as well, before the final proposal is made to the Natural Resources Board (NRB). The NRB will approve final deer season structures during their scheduled June 24 meeting in Kenosha.
