Monday, February 10th, 2025

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Monday, February 10th, 2025

Breaking News for

Sportsmen Since 1968

Dean Bortz

Dean Bortz: Should stands, blinds be left overnight on Wisconsin public land? Plenty of mixed opinions

In January 2017, the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board approved a rule change that has since allowed hunters to place stands and ground blinds overnight on state-owned land north of Hwy. 64 from September through January.
It sounds as though the level of sportsmanship related to stand and blind placement may be deteriorating and we’ll likely see a citizen resolution looking to nix the practice entering the spring hearings in April. I recently asked readers their thoughts on overnight stand and blind placement. That drew a strong response for and against. Here are the thoughts of a few readers.

Dean Bortz: Should stands, blinds be left overnight on Wisconsin public land? Plenty of mixed opinions Read More »

Wisconsin State Roundup: U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany will attempt again to get timber wolves delisted

U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.) will make another run at removing timber wolves from the federal Endangered Species List beginning this week. That’s the word coming in off the street as of Wednesday, Jan. 29.
Whispers that day said Tiffany would officially introduce his wolf delisting bill in the House of Representatives on Friday, Jan. 31. With the house not in session these days, bills may only be introduced on Tuesdays or Fridays. In May 2022, Tiffany and Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) introduced the Trust the Science Act with the backing of 21 other congress members to also delist wolves. It passed the House of Representatives, but not the U.S. Senate.

Wisconsin State Roundup: U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany will attempt again to get timber wolves delisted Read More »

Dean Bortz: OK, let’s try this archery elk hunting thing one more time

During my days as a soldier in the U.S. Army’s Alpha Co., 2nd/60th Mechanized Infantry Battalion at Fort Lewis Washington I often found myself right up against it for one reason or another.
Most of those “up against its” were my own doing.
Like the day Paul Banas, of Utica, N.Y., and I borrowed a very straight 1969 two-door Buick Wildcat from roommate Sam Cowgill, of Missouri, to make a run to the PX (postal exchange – military’s version of Walmart or Costco). On the way back, with our case of Rainier bottles, we took Sam’s Wildcat for a spin down the tank trails that wind through 20,000 acres of woods on Fort Lewis to exercise the 370 hp in the car’s 430-cubic-inch V-8.

Dean Bortz: OK, let’s try this archery elk hunting thing one more time Read More »

Wisconsin State Roundup: Numbers from fall turkey, holiday deer hunt are in

It looks like fall Wisconsin turkey hunters registered a preliminary number of 4,482 turkeys as of Jan. 2, according to the DNR’s web site.
That number might increase ever so slightly since the season didn’t close until Jan. 5. I’ve only participated in the fall turkey hunt a couple of times, with the limiting factor not being interest, but the fact that there are too many other hunting – and a few fishing – pursuits that draw my interest in the fall.

Wisconsin State Roundup: Numbers from fall turkey, holiday deer hunt are in Read More »

Good news for Wisconsin sturgeon spearers: Lake Winnebago ’bloodworm’ densities highest since 2019

If the success of Wisconsin’s annual Lake Winnebago system sturgeon spearing season depends on the strength of a “three-legged stool” that supports the season, then the 2025 rendition should have at least two strong corners – increased “bloodworm” numbers and perhaps some very good water clarity/ice conditions, cracks bridged notwithstanding.
Meanwhile, another forage base heavily used by the Winnebago system’s lake sturgeon, gizzard shad, is down, so sturgeon may be keying on bloodworm “beds.”

Good news for Wisconsin sturgeon spearers: Lake Winnebago ’bloodworm’ densities highest since 2019 Read More »

Wisconsin bear quota, deer unit map going to the Natural Resources Board

The Wisconsin DNR’s Randy Johnson will ask Natural Resources Board (NRB) members to approve an increase in the black bear harvest quota and kill tag levels for the 2025 season when the board meets Wednesday, Jan. 22, in Madison.
Johnson will ask – with support from the Conservation Congress and the DNR bear committee – for a 2025 bear harvest quota of 4,075 animals. That’s up from the 2024 quota of 3,850.

Wisconsin bear quota, deer unit map going to the Natural Resources Board Read More »

Dean Bortz: 2,347 miles, a blown tire, and one white-tailed buck

Just about every fall since probably 2010 or 2011 I’ve been able to hunt deer, elk, or pronghorn in South Dakota (deer and pronghorn), Wyoming (deer), and Montana (deer and elk). I did hunt the third rifle season for deer and elk in Colorado in 2005 and 2007 without much success, then shifted to the other three states once thoughts turned to western hunting again.
This past fall I again drew Montana’s nonresident big-game combo tag that offers deer and elk hunting, along with a small game license and annual fishing license.

Dean Bortz: 2,347 miles, a blown tire, and one white-tailed buck Read More »

State Roundup: Wisconsin Outdoor News readers respond to Bortz’s call

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I asked readers to check in here at the Wisconsin Outdoor News world headquarters if they’ve been reading the paper for our full 31 years of existence, or 25 years or more, but I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised at the response. I’ve really enjoyed emailing and talking to some of our long-time readers over the past two weeks. What a blast. I wish I’d have done this sooner. Let’s meet some of these characters.

State Roundup: Wisconsin Outdoor News readers respond to Bortz’s call Read More »

Dean Bortz: Crop damage one corner of Wisconsin’s elk program needing attention

Years ago when a Jackson County resident and Conservation Congress delegate by the name of Al Jacobsen pushed hard for the Wisconsin DNR to establish an elk herd in the Black River Falls State Forest, most everyone working in that direction anticipated crop damage to be one of the biggest issues in bringing elk into that area.
That and a potential for vehicle collisions. Jacobsen’s years of work eventually paid off and now we have a growing elk herd.

Dean Bortz: Crop damage one corner of Wisconsin’s elk program needing attention Read More »

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