3 Counties, 4 Hunts begin fall seasons
The camp cooking of Shaune Himmler Augsburger and Alan Augsburger alone is enough to bring a hunter to Northern Wisconsin Outfitters.
We’re still waiting for the final tally from Northern Wisconsin Outfitters following the first weeks of the bear hunt, with several hunters still looking to fill their tags. I know that many tags were filled and the large majority of hunters, if not all, had shot opportunities that they either took or refrained from taking depending on the individual’s own definition of a successful hunt.
Bryan Bergmann’s bear taken with a well-placed arrow is recovered in short order by the hunter, Mike Foss, and Mike Hart.
As a reporter covering NWO for the first two days of the season, the hunt became successful when I tasted the fish and chicken fry put out for the hunters by camp chefs Shaune Himmler Augsburger and Alan Augsburger. That was unbelievably delicious, as was the lasagna, and breakfasts that included eggs, bacon, cinnamon rolls, and I’ll stop now before I have to run to the kitchen.
Hunters listen in on the eve of the hunt as bear experts Mike Foss and Robert Haas answer questions at the NWO lodge.
Hunters at the NWO lodge also experienced a bear hunting educational seminar on the eve of opening day coordinated by NWO owner and guide Robert Haas, assistant Mike Foss, and bear butcher/skinner Bill Engler. The seminar was another opportunity for hunters, many who had never hunted bear before, to listen to experts regarding everything from how to tell how large a bear was, to what to do after the hit. The lessons also provided the hunters the opportunity to ask any question they may have brought to camp.
First time bear hunter Mike Hart baits his stand a final time before hunkering in for a long wait. He made a perfect shot on a 195 pound boar with his bow 10 hours later.
Personally, the experience with NWO also offered the chance to bait bears with long-time friend and On Wisconsin Outdoors’ columnist Mike Hart, and to track and recover bears after a successful hunter had taken the shot, or interview the hunters following that experience. Best of all, each of the hunters successful after day one made such well-placed shots with either bow or firearms that the bears were dead only seconds after the hits. No wounding and true reasons to celebrate a quick kill and hunt well done.
The Bergmann bear is taken from the field.
With good friend Scott Heitman, his son Ty Kinziger and buddy Mike Ingram, next stop was Marinette County and a first crack at deer with a bow, and grouse. Marinette County is a fabulous place to hunt and fish. We stayed at a family cabin on Lost Lake due to the generosity of Scott’s in-laws. Our lodging could not have been better.
Public land is abundant, and Scott and I took advantage by grouse hunting as an excuse to scout for deer stands. Ty and Mike are long-time successful hunters in Marinette County, and they had long established stands ready to go with their crossbows. After a day on stand with no sightings, Ty made a very good shot on a forkhorn buck. Although he was nervous that the shot was slightly too far back, the deer was recovered less than 100 yards from the stand.
Ty Kinziger’s Marinette County buck taken with a perfect shot with the crossbow hangs at the cabin.
Foliage is still too dense for grouse hunting, but it sure is fun to get back in the saddle to try. I’m convinced that more hunters are shooting at the sound of whirring wings in September than actual bird sightings. We flushed seven birds in probably three hours of total hunting and I missed two shots. Scott did a good job of carrying his shotgun for the exercise, but he did bring home as many grouse in the bag as I did.
John Ellis begins a swing on a lone wood duck moving at warp speed.
On to Vilas County for opening day of the duck season in Vilas County. With brothers Steve Ellis and John Ellis, we followed our established game plan and used a kayak to set decoys after walking in to hunt from shore on backwaters near Boulder Junction. Rarely if ever have I seen as many ducks on the opener. Shooting was heavy, with mallards and woodies abundant along with the occasional flock of teal, ringneck and bluebill.
English lab Dylan brings home a Woodie.
I spent the first hour working the camera as John and Steve scored and our most valuable players, Dylan and Micah made the retrieves. When I did shoot later, I did not connect on some easy shots and we ended up with an opening morning tally of 6 ducks. I was sincerely grateful though, to be able to come back to the cabin for a late breakfast with two dogs smelling of backwater and waterfowl. Plus John gave me a few ducks, which my family happens to love as table fare.
The writer’s all business retriever Micah recovers one of six ducks dropped opening morning.
The hunt is on. Thanks for patronizing our great advertiser and OWO distributor Kwik Trip during your hunting and fishing travels throughout Wisconsin. They make your free read of every issue we produce possible. Thanks too, for connecting with On Wisconsin Outdoors. Shoot straight.
John Ellis ends the morning hunt by picking up the decoys with a kayak.
Dick Ellis