THESE AREN’T WISCONSIN HUNTERS...
5-2-2013
This Blog is most often used to showcase seasonal highlights from the fields and water of Wisconsin. This week should start with the open water season slated to begin throughout Wisconsin May 4, with the main theme being that Mother Nature is still unsure if she will let go of her icy grip on the northland to let boats on lakes.
We’ll get to that shortly, but, let’s prioritize. Some things come across the On Wisconsin Outdoors’ wire, this week in our warden reports that demand immediate attention. A hibernating black bear in St. Croix County was shot in its den, decapitated, and its body left in a ditch to rot. Let’s help bring the cowards to justice and post their photos in “On Wisconsin Outdoors” for the world to see.
Think about this. Are these people useless, brainless, or just products of being kicked in the head since the day they were born?
A Wisconsin game organization is offering a $500 reward to the person whose tip to the DNR conservation wardens results in the conviction of the person or persons responsible for the February poaching. We’re also posting this full report under “Bear Hunting” “Deer Hunting” and “Outdoor News”.
DNR wardens were called about a dead bear discovered on February 24. The wardens found the body of the bear, which had been freshly killed and missing its head, in a ditch just off Rice Lake Road in Somerset Township.
Wardens report evidence at the scene indicates the bear was illegally shot while hibernating inside a culvert west of Star Prairie on County Highway H, then dragged from the culvert and taken to another location where its head was removed. Since the bear’s weight was estimated to be 250 to 300 pounds, the wardens say it would have taken more than one person to remove and to transport the bear.
The Star Prairie Fish & Game organization is offering the cash reward, and says the tip must be made to the Department of Natural Resources. The organization will make its award through the DNR wardens. If you have any information related to this crime, please contact the DNR Hotline at 1-800-TIP-WDNR. Callers can remain anonymous.
If you have information regarding natural resource violations, please call: VIOLATION HOTLINE: 1-800-TIP-WDNR or 1-800-847-9367. The hotline is in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Trained staff relay reported information to conservation wardens. Anyone who calls the Violation Hotline or provides information can remain anonymous.
Back to the open water. Check the ongoing reports on northern Wisconsin ice conditions heading into these last few days before Saturday’s opener posted under “Inland Fishing” or “Fishing Reports”. Our guide friends and tourism associations from northern Wisconsin are keeping us posted on a daily basis. Obviously they are most interested in bringing sportsmen and women into their communities and the opener is immensely important to kick-start the economy. Places like Price County are reporting open water and are expecting a good opening day. Places more north are also keeping you informed and report more uncertain conditions despite summer-like warm weather this week.
You will find reports, including some Wisconsin River photos of very fat walleyes, from Wausau, Sawyer County, Price County, Hayward Lakes, Rice Lake, Portage County, Walworth County on Delavan Lake and Lake Geneva and more. You will find daily reports now from the DNR with excellent photos of the sturgeon spawning activity on the Wolf River, and read the warden’s description and photos of the legal and illegal use of Alabama and Umbrella rigs. There’s much more. Just go browse.
“Where will you fish opening day? Some places north are free of ice and some are not. Southern Wisconsin offers great opportunity, as do the rivers. These walleyes were taken this week on the Wisconsin.”
If you find that your usual northern destination is still hardwater, look to places like Price County, Sawyer County, or pipe into the fishing reports on Delavan Lake and Lake Geneva submitted weekly by OWO columnist and professional guide Dave Duwe. All Dave’s contact info conclude his reports for your convenience and I can tell you from experience he knows what he’s going on the southern Wisconsin water.
We all know that weather is often uncertain on the opener. Usually I am in Boulder Junction, where there was 30 inches of ice one week ago. We’re posting here under “Dick’s Trips” one option I took years ago during inclement weather on opening day; visiting the Madison Chain with Gene Dellinger, owner of D&S Bait. Gene also will steer you right and his contact info is with the article.
“Gene Dellinger of D&S Bait in Madison with a nice Madison Chain gill taken during an open weekend with inclement weather.”
Also check “Upland Game” for some new articles and photos on the turkey hunt, information on where to plan your upland bird hunts throughout America including Wisconsin, and young hunter photos with gobblers submitted by readers. Submit your photos to ellis@onwisconsinoutdoors.com. I already purchased an over-the-counter tag and will be heading to the big woods next week to try and fool Tom.
The May-June issue of On Wisconsin Outdoors is posted on this website homepage, with most of the 50,000 papers on the streets. May we remind you that your local OWO pick-up locations are now also posted on the homepage?
Thanks for connecting with On Wisconsin Outdoors. Shoot straight.
Dick Ellis