Family-Outdoors

Preliminary registration numbers from Wisconsin’s nine-day gun deer season show an increase in statewide harvest. Overall, preliminary figures show that 211,430 deer were registered during the nine-day gun deer hunt, compared to 197,733 in 2017. The nine-day gun deer season continues to show hunting as a safe recreational activity, as the season ended with three hunting incidents and no hunting-related fatalities, which DNR law enforcement staff say is the safest season on record. There is now a statewide muzzleloader deer hunt going on through Dec. 5 and there is a statewide antlerless only hunt that runs from Dec. 6 to 9. Ice anglers have begun to venture out on lakes in far northern Wisconsin, like these anglers fishing this week on Big Arbor Vitae. But safety recreation specialists say no ice should ever be considered safe and to check ice conditions before you go out and while moving around on the ice. Photo credit: DNR Ice is forming on lakes across the state but state r...

Little Manitou Falls at Pattison State Park has begun to ice over. Skim and shelf ice is forming on lakes and some smaller lakes have frozen over. Photo credit: DNR Wisconsin’s traditional nine-day gun deer hunting season opens this Saturday and with snow in many northern areas and more in the forecast for Friday into Saturday but with otherwise relatively mild hunting conditions it should make for a good opener. Hunters can find all the information they need by searching the DNR website for keyword “deer.” Or new for this year, hunters with mobile devices can download the Hunt Wild Wisconsin mobile app, which provides mapping, shooting hours and easy access to regulations. Hunters can download the app from the DNR website at keywords "hunt app." This is the earliest possible opening of the season and while it is winding down in some areas, rutting activity is still noticeable with bucks visiting their scrapes and rubs and still being seen chasing does. A reminder th...

This blog does not sell stuff, but the author sure spends enough money on outdoor gear to offer some unsolicited advice about how to do it right - and wrong.  So we will briefly discuss some strategies to get the gear you need without putting yourself in the poorhouse. 1. Buy Good Gear from the Outset You can sure get a backpack, sleeping bag, tent, rifle, outdoor clothing, etc., for as cheap as can be down at that certain store that is gradually monopolizing American retail.  But, if you figure what it really costs to buy stuff at half the price and a quarter the quality, you quickly realize that you are not getting a bargain. That is not to mention the rock solid fact that the outdoor ethic dictates that waste is to be avoided, and for those of us who spend a significant amount of time in the outdoors, we want to be able to count on gear when we need it to work.  If you are taking your family to the outdoors, you want clothing to protect them from hypothermia,...

If you want to start a good debate, that's not about politics, get amongst a group of trout fishermen - fly fishermen, spin fishermen...doesn't really matter - and come up with the top ten trout waters in America. You better be good friends before the debate starts, because things are bound to be spirited!  Where do you even start? The criteria for a top stream for you might be simply fishing that's fast and furious.  Your buddy might insist that the setting be wild and lacking in crowds.  Someone else might feel like fish might have to be wild and native, or they are not worth catching. David Mann wrote a good conversation starter over at our sister site, family-outdoors.com . At his article, America's Best Trout Streams , he ranks his top ten, and you will see a little of about everything.  My only major area of disagreement with him is leaving off all mention of Alaskan streams like the Kenai River. See...there is always gonna be some room for dispute!

CENTRAL Hefner: September 19. Elevation dropping, water 80. Largemouth and smallmouth bass slow on crankbaits, plastic baits, spinnerbaits, topwater lures and Whopper Ploppers in the main lake, around points, riprap and rocks. Striped bass hybrids and walleye fair on Alabama rigs, crankbaits, grubs, hair jigs, live bait, minnows, sassy shad, slabs and spoons along the dam, in the main lake, around points, riprap, rocks and spillway. Crappie, bluegill and green sunfish fair on minnows, jigs and tube jigs at the dam, around docks, in the main lake, points and rocks. Report submitted by Lucky Lure Tackle. NORTHEAST Copan: September 20. Elevation normal, water 70s and clear. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around brush structure. Blue and flathead catfish fair on chicken liver and shad along channels. Report submitted by Joe Alexander, game warden stationed Washington County. Greenleaf: September 20. Elevation normal, water 77 and clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair on bi...

Observation platform over the Mississippi River in Pikes Peak State Park, Iowa, USA (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) NORTHWEST NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI RIVER SOUTHEAST SOUTHWEST NORTHWEST Blue Pit Channel Catfish - Good: An occasional catfish has been caught on cut bait on the jetty. Blue Sucker – Good. Clear Lake Yellow Bass - Excellent: Farmer’s beach (just outside the weed edge), MacIntosh swim beach and the Ventura jetties have been producing well. Hy-Vee and other rock reefs continue to produce. Try also the channel between the little lake and big lake has. Action has picked up this week with anglers reporting fish on every cast, at times. Walleye - Good: Walleye action is starting to pick up in certain areas. Use jigs and a minnow or cut bait in many of the same areas that yellow bass are biting. Channel Catfish - Good: Catfish are biting near the grade on cut bait and minnows. Try the last couple hours of the day or early morning. Black Crappie - F...