Of Doves & Bear
As usual, the hunting season is being ushered in with doves and bears this week. The mourning dove hunt for us on a large Muskego farm was not good. Micah turned to the wind and caught a lip full of electric fence designed to persuade 1000 pound cows; my fault for not having him on a lead for that 80 yards needed to get to the open corn and birds.
I never saw Micah again for two hours. If you had hunted with my 3-year old Golden Retriever, you would know he would never bolt. As time passed, with heavy traffic on the four highways bordering the square mile farm and distant sirens priming the imagination, I thought some bad thoughts. I found him one mile away from the shock, crossing the highway in front of my truck. Do you believe that? What are the odds? Not another vehicle in sight. He leapt into the cab and flattened out like he’s been snakebit but by what….he had no idea.
We got him back in the same cornfield immediately, soley to shake the demon that might be haunting him. He’s fine.
Jim Olsson… the man, the living legend. Jim is my friend who you may remember put us on all those big Winnebago walleyes casting a month or so ago. He drew a Zone C bear tag, did his homework, and then did the field work properly with a bow and arrow near Antigo. The result is a monster bear estimated at well over 600 pounds. We’re linking to Jim’s story and many more photos on this website under “Bear Hunting”.
I leave for Bayfield County in a few hours to cover the Mike Foss bear camp near Washburn, as is my annual habit as a reporter. I’ve helped recover bears as obese as 638 pounds and 525 pounds and it looks like Foss’s scouting and baiting work in 2013, as usual, is already paying great dividends. The season started yesterday. Mike’s e-mail this morning, Thursday, September 12, states eight bears are down out of 13 hunters in camp. Let’s link to the three photos sent by Mike too under “Bear Hunting”.
Don’t forget to search “Outdoor News” “Inland Fishing” and “Firearms” for many items posted in the last few days. Then browse anywhere else you care to, including “waterfowl hunting” and “Deer Hunting”
Thanks for connecting with “On Wisconsin Outdoors”. Shoot straight.
Our sincere condolences to OWO writer, Kenosha News Outdoor Writer and friend Terry Bitz and his wife Kristy on the loss Sunday of their 21 year old son, Devin Bitz. May you find comfort in your deep faith.
Dick Ellis