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Dean Bortz

Wisconsin’s Oneida, Bayfield counties to see public land doe harvest after all

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

The Wisconsin DNR on June 26 presented antlerless deer harvest quotas and 2024 season framework to the Natural Resources Board (NRB), with board members amending the DNR recommendation in order to issue 400 antlerless deer tags on public lands in Bayfield and Oneida counties.
Deer hunters and CDAC members struggled mightily during meetings this spring before reaching a decision to have buck-only hunting on public land in both counties in an effort to increase deer numbers on public land in future years.

Wisconsin’s Oneida, Bayfield counties to see public land doe harvest after all Read More »

Wisconsin DNR abruptly ends co-op trout rearing program

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

Volunteers working a long-running trout and salmon rearing and stocking program in cooperation with the Wisconsin DNR were caught by surprise recently when local field staffers called to say the DNR suspended the program in mid-stream.
Though reasons eventually trickled down to the volunteers, the initial message was brief. Program done. No fish will be delivered.

Wisconsin DNR abruptly ends co-op trout rearing program Read More »

Utah plant fire could affect trout, salmon hatcheries in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan

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

A February fire at a Utah aquaculture feed plant may affect trout and salmon fish hatchery operations now and well into the future in at least Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
DNR fish hatchery supervisors in all three states have depended on Skretting’s specialized trout and salmon feed to raise trout and salmon for inland waters and the Great Lakes. Skretting’s Tooele, Utah, plant manufactures a wide range of aquaculture feeds. The fire may force the closure of that plant.

Utah plant fire could affect trout, salmon hatcheries in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan Read More »

Wisconsin State Roundup: Thoughts on Vilas and Oneida deer herds, state turkey season structure

Featured, Hunting, National Hunting, Opinion, Wisconsin /

Vilas and Oneida counties are up this week as the third part of Steve Heiting’s five-part series reviewing the deer situation in 10 northern counties.
Heiting opens with a discussion from two loggers on habitat and the timber industry, then follows with his look at Vilas and Oneida counties. I attended the CDAC meetings in both counties where most hunters in no uncertain terms voiced their displeasure with what they’re not seeing in the woods.

Wisconsin State Roundup: Thoughts on Vilas and Oneida deer herds, state turkey season structure Read More »

Dean Bortz: Here’s how the Wisconsin DNR fish teams conduct their lake surveys

Fishing, National Fishing, Opinion, Wisconsin /

I recently received a hand-written letter to the editor from one of our regular readers in Two Rivers who checked in with a question.
His question: “Why in the world would anyone care about a lake report from 2017? What I, and I’m sure other fishermen, too, would like to see is a more recent survey.”
Our dear reader (and I do mean that most affectionately – I like this guy, plus I’ve watched some Bridgerton on Netflix; just don’t start calling me Lady Whistledown) is referring to our May 31 report on Big Arbor Vitae Lake in Vilas County.

Dean Bortz: Here’s how the Wisconsin DNR fish teams conduct their lake surveys Read More »

Dean Bortz: ‘Schooled’ by my granddaughter on a recent fishing adventure

Featured, Features, Fishing, Home Page News, National Fishing, Nature Page & Night Sky, Wisconsin /

I like fishing with kids. I was reminded of that the other Monday afternoon when I was able to snag one of the local granddaughters for a couple of hours after school and before bath time.
She’s 6 years old and just wrapping up a very successful year of kindergarten. She can read and count to 100, or so she claims. I haven’t tested her on that one yet. She used to believe all of my tall tales. No longer. She’s onto me. I now get a mean side-eye if she smells any truth bending.

Dean Bortz: ‘Schooled’ by my granddaughter on a recent fishing adventure Read More »

State Roundup: Start with Iron County when looking deep into issues with Northern Wisconsin’s deer herd

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

Steve Heiting’s deer series continues with a look at Iron and Ashland counties, along with an accompanying article on the front page of our June 14 print edition of Wisconsin Outdoor News.
I grew up hunting in both counties – the former units 28, 29A, and 29B. After moving to the Minocqua/Woodruff area in 1986 following military service and college, I continued hunting those units, and added Vilas and Oneida counties.

State Roundup: Start with Iron County when looking deep into issues with Northern Wisconsin’s deer herd Read More »

Dean Bortz: Turkeys get the best of me, but 2024 season was no disappointment

Featured, Features, Hunting, National Hunting, Wisconsin /

I guess if my only point or objective to turkey hunting was bagging a beard-swinging bird bellering in my face, then I’d have given up the sport a long time ago and gone back to catching walleyes and crappies in the spring. This spring I had four turkey tags in my pocket (or is it cloud these days?).
Only one of those tags could be considered used by the end of the fifth period, but I still had one of my best turkey seasons ever. How could that be? Well, I have some good friends and family to thank for a great 2024 turkey hunting season.

Dean Bortz: Turkeys get the best of me, but 2024 season was no disappointment Read More »

Wisconsin State Roundup: Access to DNR wildlife biologists made difficult during reporting on northern deer herd

Featured, Hunting, National Hunting, Opinion, Wisconsin /

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers must just about lay an egg any time a license-buying sportsman utters the word deer or wolf out loud. I say that based on the reaction we received from the DNR Office of Communications when we started contacting DNR wildlife biologists to work on a series of articles looking at the deer herd situation in 10 northern tier counties.

Wisconsin State Roundup: Access to DNR wildlife biologists made difficult during reporting on northern deer herd Read More »

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