Category: Fishing and Hunting
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Wild Things: Hunters Set Sights on Abundant Farm-country Whitetails Sept. 18
Whether you’ve been trying to pattern a trophy buck all summer or simply want a shot at some tender, young venison, your time is drawing near. Wisconsin’s annual archery and crossbow deer season will open a half hour before sunrise on Sept. 18. In the meantime, check your tree stands, anchor your ground blinds and […]
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WILD THINGS: Season’s First Hunts Opens Wednesday
Locally Raised Canada Geese Abundant It’s still summer on the calendar, but many area hunters are gearing up for the first “fall” hunting openers Sept. 1. The early goose season will start with a bang Wednesday, when wildlife officials and plenty of urban property owners hope hunters can help trim a booming population of locally […]
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WILD THINGS: Bonus Deer, Turkey Tags Available on ‘Go Wild’ Site
Whether you hunt whitetails and wild turkeys locally, or head to another county to try your luck, now’s the time to pick up the tags you’ll need. It’s true that all hunters get one either-sex fall turkey tag with their license purchase, but leftovers are also available. You can check by zone at dnr.wisconsin.gov/permits/fallturkey.html. Meanwhile, […]
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38.58-pounder caught one day prior to salmon tournament opener Just when you think things can’t get any wilder out on Lake Michigan, the Big Pond gives up three world-class trophies in just six days. Last week we reported on De Pere angler Susann Jacques and her amazing, 35-pound, 10-ounce Chinook, caught July 19 between Algoma […]
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WILD THINGS: Season’s Heaviest ‘Up North’ Salmon Caught Monday
For the second straight week, a trophy Chinook salmon with a Luxemburg connection was boated on Lake Michigan. And for the second week in a row, it was hooked between Sturgeon Bay and Algoma. It appears there’s something in the water this year: big fish. Six days after a 32-pound-plus giant was landed on a […]
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WILD THINGS: A Hot Summer Is a Cool Time to Scout for the Fall Seasons
If you’re the procrastinating type, you can be late and early at the same time this summer by getting out in the woods. Let me explain. A lot of experts will tell you that any changes you make to your hunting areas should be done as soon as possible after the season ends – as in, […]
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WILD THINGS: Who’ll Be the Top Banana?
Kewaunee/Door County Salmon Tournament fever is rising Thousands of anglers from across the country are expected to participate in the 39th annual Kewaunee/Door (K/D) County Salmon Tournament, which will begin its nine-day run July 23. Luxemburg charter captain Pat Veeser watched customers reel in the second-heaviest Chinook he’s had on his boat in more than […]
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WILD THINGS: Lake Michigan Salmon Fishing off to a Drag-screaming Start
Six weeks into an explosive start to salmon and steelhead action on Lake Michigan, charter and private-boat anglers alike are hoping the winds of change won’t come anytime soon. Although Wisconsin’s Big Pond trolling fishery has been amazing in 2021, it’s not the same story across the lake. An online check of Great Lakes fishing […]
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AROUND THE DOOR: Kids Fishing Derby
Father’s Day, June 20, was also the day of the 36th annual Kids Fishing Derby at Little Lake in Sturgeon Bay. (From left) Chad and Landon Rosemergy of Sturgeon Bay participated, with Landon proudly showing off one of his catches. Photo by Mike Brisson.
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WILD THINGS: Wisconsin’s Wolf Controversy Is Not Going to Go Away Quietly
Tuesday’s second virtual gathering of Wisconsin’s Wolf Harvest Advisory Committee was much like what we see in today’s politics: highly polarized, and not a whole lot of meeting in the middle. Just a day ahead of the five-hour meeting, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced that the state’s pre-hunt 2020-21 winter wolf population […]
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WILD THINGS: Lake Trout Plan a Good Start, but ‘Too Many’ Are Already Out There
Sport anglers who lost the opportunity to harvest more lake trout this spring can’t get that back, but it should be a “go” from here on out. During its meeting next week, the state Natural Resources Board (NRB) is expected to approve a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recommendation to adopt an emergency order returning […]
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WILD THINGS: National Fishing and Boating Week, 30 by 30 Initiative, and More
Whether you want to target smallmouth bass, perch, walleye or pike on Green Bay; trout and salmon on Lake Michigan; or panfish, pike and largemouth bass on area inland lakes, now’s the time to try your luck. Bluegills, smallmouths, pike and rock bass are active in many of the bays, harbors and marinas on Green […]
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WILD THINGS: Free Fishing Weekend a Great Time to Hook New Anglers
In spring, a young man’s thoughts often turn to his first love. For many of us baby boomers, that love was fishing. A broken heart? Who wouldn’t have one after the line breaks while fighting an unseen monster? Back then, I didn’t need the latest study to tell me that relaxing outdoors and being close […]
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WILD THINGS: Spring Weather Is a Tease, Taste of Summer Eludes
Air and water temperatures continue to fluctuate widely on the Kewaunee/Door peninsula – something that those of us who’ve seen this spring show before are very familiar with. A 20- to 30-degree swing in temperatures from one day to the next – or even within the same day, depending on the wind direction and proximity to […]
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This is not your typical 16-year-old’s passion Tia Wiesner’s summer vacation plans could be traced to her two-year-old self who, dressed in camouflage bibs, accompanied her family on a black-bear hunt. “She was in the woods with us the whole while,” said Nicole Wiesner, Tia’s mother. Then she’s five years old, straddling her father’s shoulders […]
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WILD THINGS: Bass Fanatic Hooks the Trout of a Lifetime off Door County
Door County’s spring sport fishery is among the most impressive in North America. Five-pound smallmouth bass, 10-pound walleyes and 20-pound northern pike aren’t out of the question. But a 32-pound, nine-ounce brown trout that Ben Otto of Pulaski caught while casting for bass April 24 near Sand Bay turned the world-class potential up a notch. […]
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Wild Things: State Natural Resources Board Approves Whitefish Emergency Rule
A seven-year effort led by Northern Door commercial fisherman Charlie Henriksen is finally coming to fruition on Green Bay. Wisconsin’s seven-citizen Natural Resources Board (NRB) unanimously approved an emergency rule allowing an increased quota for whitefish this season in commercial fishing Zone 1 (Lower Green Bay) during an online meeting April 14. Henriksen, president of […]
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Wild Things: Door County Shoots for Three Free Tags
Kewaunee County goes for four for 2021 deer season Deer hunters in Door and Kewaunee counties will again have ample opportunity to target whitetails this fall. The Kewaunee County Deer Advisory Council (CDAC), which earlier this year voted to aim to maintain the herd at current levels, gave a preliminary recommendation to award four free […]
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Wild Things: Baileys Harbor Brown Trout Tourney Returns
Participate April 15-17 off the Door/Kewaunee peninsula After a one-year hiatus caused by the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Baileys Harbor Brown Trout Tournament is back on for 2021. This year’s contest – the 33rd – is set for April 15-17, with fishing allowed on Green Bay and Lake Michigan waters off Door and Kewaunee […]
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Wild Things: Spring Fishing, Bird Migration Highlight Late March Outdoors
Spring’s arrival this weekend means that more fishing and birding opportunities are just around the corner. Lake Michigan tributary anglers are finding the first wave of spawn-minded rainbow trout in the deeper runs, and northern pike and walleyes are migrating toward Green Bay’s creek mouths and nearshore shallows. Brown trout and an occasional laker have […]