Hunting, Fishing to Share the Wisconsin Stage Soon
I am on the road as a reporter today, intent on capturing a cover photo and my column contribution for the upcoming September-October issue of On Wisconsin Outdoors. We’ll be on the stands in three weeks.
Last issue I believe we published 14 fishing stories covering all the major game fish and panfish opportunities from every region of Wisconsin and a few hunting, firearms and wildlife articles. The fall issue is always particularly interesting as a publisher because like many of you, I wait for the transition of the fishing season to hunting. Still expect many stories targeting fishing from our guides who never get off the water, or ice, regardless of the season. But like me, you can tell that it is hunting that gets the motor going for many of our writers. Lee Gatzke’s deer hunting features and Mike Foss bear-chasing antics come to mind this issue. We also introduce hunting dog trainer Kathy Strong this issue. Also look for columns from our long-established hunting and firearms nuts.
Our fishing (and hunting) guides also contribute to our website on a weekly basis. Connect with “Inland Fishing” or “Fishing Reports” to see what came in this week from Delavan and Lake Geneva in the south to Price County and Minocqua in the north and many places in between.
Hound training is underway for the upcoming bear hunt and that means wolf kills. I believe we had at least three incidents detailed by the DNR last week and posted in several places on this site, including “Bear Hunting” and “Deer Hunting”. The wolves are reacting instinctively as a territorial predator and protective parent, but it’s also those nasty losses that no doubt make many of us welcome a wolf season. I’d be interested to know if the increase in the wolf and bear populations in Wisconsin and even several verified sightings of mountain lions make any of you scouting or heading to your bow stand in the dark strap on a sidearm. I never have carried in Vilas County, but as our own group reports more encounters, I think about it. Wolves and certainly bears don’t make me nervous. I always like the encounters in the field (two with wolves, lots with bears), but I can’t say I’d be interested in having a cat hanging around my way-back stands. Well, maybe for one photo or two, but then he can go back to North Dakota.
You may remember in last week’s blog I wrote of the territorial marking tree that Guide Mike Foss had found being used by a monster bear while baiting stands last week in Lake Superior country. Here’s a photo. The story will be published in the September-October issue of OWO. Foss is 6-foot tall. The scratch marks on the cedar reach to 8-feet with the claw marks two inches apart. He also found the scat that he describes as “big as a pop can”. Hair raising stuff, especially if you’ve witnessed the size of the bears that Foss hunters tag almost every year. I have helped drag bears to 638 pounds and I look forward to covering the hunt for Northern Wisconsin Outfitters (NorthWioutfitters.com) again in September
|
|
 |
Returned from our Vilas County cabin this week with a couple interesting photos. More signs of the approaching fall include bachelor groups of loons gathering and baby loons growing large enough to make their first trip to warmer climates in the not too distant future. This baby seems to have a ways to go. These cooperative hawks were captured near Boulder Junction. Notice I don’t identify them? I’m not sure what these critters are yet, so stand by.
 |
 |
Talk again soon. Thanks for connecting with On Wisconsin Outdoors. Shoot straight. That means don’t run for office.
Dick Ellis