Wednesday, September 16th, 2026
My Account

Breaking News for

Sportsmen Since 1968

Main Menu
Menu
Search
My Account
Wednesday, September 16th, 2026

Breaking News for

Sportsmen Since 1968

Main Menu
Menu
Subscribe to Outdoor News

Dean Bortz

Dean Bortz: Wisconsin wildlife biologists see positive signs for fall deer hunts

Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, National Hunting, Wisconsin /

Don’t look now, but Wisconsin’s 2026 archery deer season is upon us (it started Sept. 12), and that means the rifle season isn’t all that far away any longer.
There are a few things deer hunters of all stripes might want to keep in mind for this year. All of this is per the Department of Natural Resources. The antlerless-only holiday hunt will run Dec. 24 through Jan. 1, 2027, in 48 counties. Then 42 of those counties are extending the archery season through Jan. 31, 2027. Check each farmland zone county for the number of antlerless “tags” that will be issued with each license.

Dean Bortz: Wisconsin wildlife biologists see positive signs for fall deer hunts Read More »

State Roundup: Good luck to Wisconsin hunters embarking on another fall season

Featured, Fishing, Hunting, Opinion, Wisconsin /

Well, what do you know, mid-September is here, and along with it we see the first signs of fall in Wisconsin in the form of some bright leaf colors starting to show up north, along with the falling of leaves (already?) and even some acorns. Water temperatures have started to drop ever so slightly as daylight hours shorten and nighttime lows drop into the 50s.
The familiar morning fogs generated by the cooling lakes reminds us that the autumn hunting and trapping seasons will soon be upon us, if they aren’t already.

State Roundup: Good luck to Wisconsin hunters embarking on another fall season Read More »

Facing hatchery closures, Wisconsin’s Lake Superior anglers work to rescue trout stocking

Featured, Fishing, Home Page News, National Fishing, National News, News, Wisconsin /

More than 120,000 brown trout eventually destined for Lake Superior will soon settle into their new over-winter home at Wisconsin’s St. Croix Falls State Fish Hatchery, thanks to the efforts – and wallets – of local fishermen.
A somewhat – maybe – mild kerfuffle developed this summer at the Les Voigt State Fish Hatchery in Bayfield as the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) clarified the extent of its fisheries, wildlife, and state parks budget deficit. The DNR’s long list of stocking and program cuts and hatchery closures included the brown trout raised every year at the Bayfield hatchery for stocking in Lake Superior.

Facing hatchery closures, Wisconsin’s Lake Superior anglers work to rescue trout stocking Read More »

Wisconsin Roundup: Remembering Don Bluhm; and more on wolf incidents

Featured, Hunting, Opinion, Wisconsin /

I’m going to miss Don Bluhm, one of our writers who passed away Aug. 13 at age 90. I consider myself very lucky to have known Bluhm.
When his stories arrived, I would sit down and just read them before picking up my electronic “editing pen” and going through the copy. The only thing better was listening to his stories over a cup of coffee in a Woodruff cafe during his visits.

Wisconsin Roundup: Remembering Don Bluhm; and more on wolf incidents Read More »

Dean Bortz: Which way will Wisconsin DNR lean on wolf loss payments?

Featured, Hunting, National Hunting, Opinion, Wisconsin /

Anyone in Wisconsin who hunts with a dog, who owns dogs and lives in “wolf country,” or who raise any kind of livestock within sniffing range of a wolf pack just might want to pay attention because the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) expects to call a virtual meeting/hearing sometime in December – date yet to be determined – on the language and bullet points that will be included in a permanent rule on pet and livestock damage payments when wolves kill dogs, cattle, horses, donkeys, mules, goats, sheep, chickens, and even cats (one cat that I know of – in Marathon County this year).

Dean Bortz: Which way will Wisconsin DNR lean on wolf loss payments? Read More »

Wisconsin State Roundup: A list of verified wolf attacks and kills in the state

Featured, Opinion, Wisconsin /

We talked about wolf kills on pets and livestock in this spot last issue, and the fact that the Wisconsin DNR fund that pays for those losses could run short.
I wonder if many readers know the DNR tracks wolf attacks on its website. Go to the “hunting” tab, click on “wolf” and you’ll see a tab that lists verified wolf kills and attacks, along with definitions for the three levels of “human safety” incidents. I’m going to list all of the attacks and kills verified by USDA-Wildlife Services since July 1. You might be surprised.

Wisconsin State Roundup: A list of verified wolf attacks and kills in the state Read More »

Dean Bortz: Wisconsin Conservation Congress, DNR forge ahead

Featured, Fishing, Home Page News, Hunting, Opinion, Wisconsin /

So we have a little news for this spot this week, followed by more submissions on short-eared does. I’m not sure what I started here when running the first bit on short-eared does, but apparently there are more of these oddball critters running around than I would have anticipated.
As for the first item we’re going to run through today, a renewed commitment from the Wisconsin Conservation Congress and DNR to work together going forward. This should have run as a news story farther forward in this issue, but the press release hit my email in-box just as we were closing out this issue so it will appear here.

Dean Bortz: Wisconsin Conservation Congress, DNR forge ahead Read More »

State Roundup: A simple solution to paying for Wisconsin’s wolf damage claims

3 Comments / Discussions, Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, National Hunting, Opinion, Wisconsin /

Wolf kills of livestock and pets are down in Wisconsin a bit from last year at this time, but the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) may still have to prorate damage payments to livestock and pet owners this fiscal year because of DNR budget concerns (see Kevin Naze’s story in this issue for full details).
The DNR’s current fiscal year began July 1. The DNR may hold off all wolf kill payments until the end of the fiscal year (June 30, 2027) in order to compare claims to cash on hand.

State Roundup: A simple solution to paying for Wisconsin’s wolf damage claims Read More »

GET THE OUTDOOR NEWS DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Sign up for the Outdoor News Weekly Newsletter and get 2 months of FREE access to OutdoorNews.com – packed with hunting, fishing, and conservation news. No Catch.

This offer includes digital access only (not the printed edition)

Email Address(Required)
Password(Required)
Name
What outdoor activities interest you?(Required)

PLEASE READ

Accessing Your Full Subscription Just Got Easier. Introducing Single Sign On.

 We’ve simplified things. Now you only need one password to access all your Outdoor News digital content.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Click Continue below.
  2. You’ll be taken to the OutdoorNews.com sign-in screen.
  3. Don’t have an account yet? Create one—it’s quick!
  4. After signing in, click the E-Edition Login button again. When the pop-up appears, just click Continue.
  5. You’ll either:
    1. Land on the e-edition selection screen (you’re in!)
    2. Be sent to a help page if we didn’t detect a subscription.

If you hit the help page, follow the directions so you don’t miss out on any of our great content.

One login. Every edition. Easy.

Let’s get you reading!

Continue...

PLEASE READ

 We’ve simplified things. Now you only need one password to access all your Outdoor News digital content.

Here’s how it works:

• Click Continue below.

• You’ll be taken to the OutdoorNews.com sign-in screen.

• Don’t have an account yet? Create one—it’s quick!

• After signing in, click the E-Edition Login button again. When the pop-up appears, just click Continue. You’ll either:

  1. Land on the e-edition selection screen (you’re in!)
  2. Be sent to a help page if we didn’t detect a subscription.

If you hit the help page, follow the directions so you don’t miss out on any of our great content.

Continue...

Help Shape the Future of OutdoorNews.com!

We know you love the outdoors—now we want to make OutdoorNews.com the ultimate destination for all things hunting, fishing, and conservation.

Take our brief 3 minute survey to share your thoughts, and help us build the best outdoor website on the planet. As a thank you, we’ll send you a special offer!

Together, we can make OutdoorNews.com even better.

Take the Survey

Introducing The Outdoor News Foundation

Donate Today

For a limited time, you can get full access to breaking news, all original Outdoor News stories and updates from the entire Great Lakes Region and beyond, the most up-to-date fishing & hunting reports, lake maps, photo & video galleries, the latest gear, wild game cooking tips and recipes, fishing & hunting tips from pros and experts, bonus web content and much, much more, all on your smartphone, tablet or desktop For just a buck per month!

Sign Up Now

Some restrictions apply. Not valid with other promotions. $1 per month for 6 months (you will be billed $6) and then your subscription will renew at standard subscription rates. For more information see Terms and Conditions. This offer only applies to OutdoorNews.com and not for any Outdoor News print subscriptions. Offer valid thru 3/31/23.

Already a subscriber to OutdoorNews.com? Click here to login.