November Update
It didn't take long to fill up the tower shoot and fundraiser for Governor Scott Walker held here at Wern Valley last month. Everyone enjoyed the good weather and photo ops while bagging over 80% of the birds off the big tower. Club staff, dog handlers and hunters had a lot of fun along the way. Mark Thome's 10 year-old son Kyle had a day he will not soon forget as he got to sit next to the Governor for lunch. How cool is that! The Club looks forward to having Governor Walker back soon and thanks again to everyone who participated!
The gun-deer season is fast approaching on the minds of a lot of hunters. For some, it's a time to give the dogs a well deserved rest and head out for a long weekend in the Northwoods. If you haven't sighted in your rifle or just want to make sure it still shoots where you left it, the Club's rifle range is set up and ready to go Tuesdays thru Sundays from now until opening day. Paper targets, spotting scopes, ear protection, and experienced staff are on site and eager to help if you need it at no charge to Club members. The Club has applied for and is hoping to receive grant money from the DNR for various range improvements over the coming months. Deer registrations at Wern Valley are down once again from a year ago. A good portion of the county was hitby drought related EHD (Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease or "Blue Tongue") last year which probably has contributed to no mature trophy bucks registered so far this fall. The rut is underway, so only time will tell!
Bird hunting activity here at the Club has picked up considerably with cooler temperatures and better cover conditions. A pesky but persistent wet streak has been hampering hunters and farmers the last couple weeks, so a few sunny days would be welcome right now. In spite of higher than normal moisture content, the Club went ahead and harvested most of the corn planted on the Club grounds with many acres left standing for food plots and strips for hunting cover in the months ahead. Corn prices have fallen sharply in recent weeks.
Daylight savings time has kicked in and with that the Club's sporting clays range will be open on Saturdays only until mid-March. Anyone interested in having a group sporting clays outing can do so by appointment during the week, provided reservations are made in advance.
The Club has a new food service provider who will be serving lunch 11 am to 1:30 pm on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and on busier days during the week. Pizzas and a full bar are always available, as are exchange birds, smoked pheasant, pot pies, snack sticks, and brats.
Finally, the Club would like to let everyone know Bruce Kapanke, who trains pointers and boards dogs here at the Club's kennel, is back at home after three weeks in the hospital following a bone marrow transplant. Bruce was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer last January, and has been undergoing treatment ever since. There are at least half a dozen Club members recently diagnosed with various forms of cancer! If you haven't been taking some time off from work to go hunting- THINK AGAIN!
God Bless...
Steve Williams