WISCONSIN OUTDOOR EVENTS
FREE
IT’S OK TO POUT
TARGETING THE EELPOUT
+
FISHING THE GREAT LAKES SCREAMIN DRAG SPORTFISHING CHARTERS
HUNTING SEASON DATES TO REMEMBER
LIVID LARGE
10 YEARS OF PERSISTENCE IN BOTH MUSKY FISHING AND LURE MAKING PAYS OFF!
AMAZING RECIPE FOR THE OUTDOOR SPORTSMAN Winter/Spring 2016 - Wisconsin
CONTENTS WINTER / SPRING 2016
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Jennifer Arnold
PROJECT MANAGER
Marissa Nalley
For customer service call 309-319-9844 www.americanoutdoorsmagazine.com
3
EVENTS
One-Of-A-Kind family events
6
FISHING, CAMPING, HUNTING & LAKES MAP
8
IT’S OK TO POUT
16
35
The best techniques to bag these crafty fish
Make sure you preserve the best moments of your hunt
5 USEFUL TIPS ON TROUT FISHING
18
38
LIVID LARGE
Learn all about the Livid Fish lure
22
WINTER BACKPACKING TIPS
What to do in a winter emergency
BEST WAYS TO GET YOUR KIDS INTO HUNTING & FISHING
41
26
42
Great ideas to help you meet your kids’ expectations
THE SCIENCE BEHIND HOW DEER SEE
Targeting the eelpout can be great fun
Why the vision of a deer is greater than a human’s
13
28
Effective ways to hunt deer
STILL-HUNTING IN WINTER TIPS
TAKING THE PERFECT TROPHY HUNT PHOTOS
GREAT RECIPE
Amazing Starla’s Seasonings, Dips & Mixes
WISCONSIN CAMPGROUND AMENITIES
44
WISCONSIN HUNTING SEASON DATES
FISHING THE GREAT LAKES
47
Learn all about Screamin Drag sportfishing charters
WISCONSIN HOOK & LINE REGULATIONS
32
48
THE HISTORY OF FOX HUNTING
CLASSIFIED ADS
Learn about this traditional equestrian sports
www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 1
ADVERTISER INDEX 12 Baskets Discount Groceries.................... 34
DJ’s Northwoods Family Restaurant........... 54
Pickett Steam Club......................................... 39
All Blade Archery............................................ 34
Eastside Auto Body........................................ 11
Piller’s Poor Boys............................................ 53
American Auto Sales & Service................... 36
Eastwood Cabins............................................ 51
Pine Mountain Outfitters............................... 52
Ameriprise Financial...................................... 57
Feldman Sales & Service Inc........................ 46
Pizza Ranch...................................................... 53
Aspen Outfitters.............................................. 49
Felton Appliances & Electronics.................. 58
Prairie Place Assisted Living........................ 40
B and B Bar & Grill......................................... 55
First Capitol Mini Mart................................... 17
Pro-Shot Products.......................................... 34
Bev’s Saddle Mound Tap............................... 37
Freedom Arms Unlimited............................... 12
R/T’z Pub, Grille & Pizzeria............................ 54
Big Horn Outfitters............. Inside Front Cover
Frey’s Hunting Innovations, Ltd..................... 49
Big Musky Resort............................................ 51
Furniture Company......................................... 58
Screaming Drag Sport Fishing Charters.......................................... 50
Book World Inc................................................ 58
Happiness Acres............................................. 59
Shooting Benches USA................................. 49
Bremer Creek Outfitter Service.................... 52
Hixton Ridge Taxidermy................................. 36
Silver Creek Dentistry.................................... 24
Buck Buckley’s Total Basement Finishing.................................... 56
Holiday Inn & Conference Center................ 51
SkySnap Aerial Photography........................ 56
H & R Block...................................................... 58
Sorgs Quality Meats & Sausages................ 14
Joe Jo’s Pizza & Gelato.................................. 53
Southern Lakes Vacuum & Sewing............. 33
John Forbes Love Spells & Astro Center............................................. 56
Spring Valley Meats....................................... 54
Chippewa Wedge Loc.................................... 11
Stebmitz Builders............................................ 57
Cindy’s Bar & Grill........................................... 53
Juneau Chamber of Commerce.................... 56
SVF Fabrication.................. Inside Back Cover
Circle Kennel Club.......................................... 60
Karl’s Excavating Inc...................................... 33
Tall Tines Taxidermy....................................... 17
Coffee Beans Etc............................................ 55
L & L Painting................................................... 60
TA Motorsports................................................ 58
Coffeepot High Country Outfitters, Inc........ 46
Madison Area Technical College................. 57
Team Smack Down Outdoors........................ 25
Corral Bar & Riverside Grill........................... 53
Morse Powersports Center........................... 45
The Filling Station........................................... 37
Craft Shack, LLC.............................................. 59
NAPA Rochester............................................. 45
Timberline Sharpener..................................... 59
Cross Roads Market....................................... 38
Nicolet Studio & Gallery................................ 12
Wheeler’s Point Resort.................................. 24
Cuco’s Mexican Restaurant.......................... 55
Northland Docks............................................. 12
Wisconsin Hydrographics............................. 31
Custom Health................................................. 38
Northwoods Harley Davidson....................... 59
Wisconsin National Guard.............................. 5
Custom Metal Products................................. 11
Oak Ridge Embroidery & Gifts...................... 58
Zippel Bay Resort............................................ 50
Dee’s Pub.......................................................... 11
Pankow Bulldozing & Trucking..................... 14
DEZ Tactical Arms, Inc................................... 15
Pet Supplies Plus............................................ 59
Burkman’s Painting Service.......................... 57 Chapparal Campground & Resort................ 39
American Outdoor Magazine P.O. Box 6262 | Peoria, Illinois 61601 Phone 309.319.9844 • 877.245.4780 americanoutdoorsmagazine@gmail.com www.americanoutdoorsmagazine.com
2 | American Outdoors Magazine
While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained within this edition, American Outdoors Magazine or its advertisers will assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. American Outdoors Magazine makes no warranties regarding the information contained herein. All information provided herein is subject to change without notice. Copyright 2016. All rights reserved.
ONE-OF-A-KIND EVENTS SAVE THE DATE
JANUARY 16 - Feb 20
6 - 14
MERRILL ICE DRAGS, Merrill. Sat, Jan 16—Sat, Feb 20. Dragsters, muscle cars and trucks race on an 1/8-mile strip of ice on Lake Alexander. Access to ice is through the Council Grounds State Park Reg at 9am, races begin at noon. Dates may change, please check website.
WASHINGTON ISLAND FISH DERBY WEEK, Washington Island. Sat, Feb 6—Sun, Feb 14. A week long fishing competition offering prizes for the top catches to those who take on the challenges of the frozen waters of Lake Michigan.
FEBRUARY
WISCONSIN DEER CLASSIC AND HUNTING EXPO, Rothschild. Fri, Feb 12, 3-9pm; Sat, Feb 13, 10am-7pm; Sun, Feb 14, 10am-4pm. Don’t miss this family hunting and outdoor expo presented by the Wisconsin Taxidermists Association in conjunction with the official WTA Championship Competition. Firearms, hunting gear, archery, guides and outfitters, power sports, taxidermy and so much more.
4 - 25 WINTER AFTER HOURS, Eau Claire. Feb 4— Feb 25. 6-8pm - Thursdays only! A weekly snow-based social. Ice Skating: Meander Boyd’s new curvy ice loop. Bring your own skates or rent some on-site. Snowshoeing: Visit the pavilion to rent snowshoes from Beaver Creek Reserve, then follow a torch lit path next to Boyd Park. Snow Sculptures: Watch Eau Claire’s international award-winning snow carvers in action. Winter Kubb: In the center of it all try Eau Claire’s hottest yard game, winter style! Giant Firepit: Gather round the over-sized firepit for some mid-winter warmth. Music: Enjoy the ambient sounds of an excellent winter playlist. Hot Drinks: Partake in some hot liquid goodness from local tea and coffee houses. Ice skate rentals, snowshoe rentals, as well as hot chocolate, tea, and coffee.
12 - 14
18 - 21 SLUMBERLAND AMERICAN BIRKEBEINER CROS-COUNTRY SKI EVENT, Hayward. Thursday, Feb 18—Feb 21. North America’s largest and most prestigious X-C ski marathon. 12,000 skiers of all ages, genders and nationalities participate in the 51K Birkebeiner, the 24K Kortelopet, Prince Haakon 13K, the children’s Barnebirkie, Junior Birkie, Elite Sprints, and Family Fun Ski. Located near Hayward and Cable, Wisconsin, the
Birkie is now an outdoor sports mecca, a series of great races, a fitness destination, and a Lifestyle. Trail Length (miles) 51 km or 31.7miles SKI . RUN . BIKE . LIVE. http://www.birkie.com/ski/ events/birkie/
19 - 21 MANAWA SNODEO, Manawa. Fri, Feb 19— Sun, Feb 21. The event kicks off with the 3rd Annual Ride with The Vets on Friday at Noon. A free lunch is provided for all Vets, followed by a guided short trail ride. Snowmobiles and gear will be provided. Saturday is Lakecross racing, ProVintage Oval racing, WKSRA, radar runs and ice drags. Registration opens at 7:30am racing begins at 9:30am. DJ, food and refreshments all day. Fun for the whole family!! Sunday - WKSRA National Championship Race, radar runs, ice drags, oval racing, ice bike racing. Registration opens at 8am, racing starts at 10am.
20 CANDLELIGHT SKI NIGHT, Chippewa Falls. Sat, Feb 20, 5-8pm, weather permitting. Cross country skies a one or two-mile trail through a winter wonderland illuminated by glowing candles. For non-skiers a .75-mile lighted trail is available for hiking and snowshoeing. Weather permitting.
www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 3
20 - 21
27
INDOOR RENDEVOUS TRADE FAIR, Danbury. Sat, Feb 20— Sun, Feb 21. 10am-3pm both days! “Trade, Barter, Buy.” Open to the public and traders, this event is a great opportunity for everyone to get great deals on merchandise that the traders want to clear out of their inventory. You never know if you will find just the thing you were looking for, not to mention the fun and camaraderie of a traders camp, indoors, at the end of February. Admission is free to the public. Traders see the website for details.
DRIFTLESS AREA DEER CLASSIC, Richland Center. Sat, Feb 27. 9am - 6pm. 4th annual Driftless Area Deer Classic with Wisconsin Buck & Bear Club Official Scoring, gun raffles, bucket raffles, speakers, vendor booths, food & beverage on grounds, Sheds are welcome but not scored.
20 - 21
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL SPORTS SHOW, West Allis. Wed, March 2—March 6. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sports Show features outdoor sports exhibits and interactive fun for the entire family. Be a part of this sporting tradition where people, from all over Wisconsin and northern Illinois, who love fishing, boating, hunting, and camping, come to try and buy the latest in outdoor equipment as well as book their summer vacation sporting adventure.
WINTER FESTIVAL, Cedarburg. Sat, Feb 20, 8am-10pm; —Sun, Feb 21, 8am-4pm. People of all ages are invited to attend the ever-popular 42nd two-day Winter Festival in Cedarburg and enjoy a myriad of activities which include the Lions Club Ice-Burg Open golf tournament in Cedar Creek Park, wine tasting at Cedar Creek Winery, ice carving contest, chili contest, bed races featuring themed costumed racing followed by the barrel racing, pancake breakfast, Alaskan Malamute dog-pulling contest, parade, live music, open family skating on Mill Pond & Cedar Creek Park daily, brat cookout, kids make-and-take projects, and much more.
26-27 WORLD’s LONGEST WEENIE ROAST, Cable. Fri, Feb 26—Sat, Feb 27. Watch winter come to a climactic end as the greatest event on ice wraps up the season. Thousands of Weenie Roast enthusiasts come annually to watch the fastest sleds compete for top speed of the day while eating up those great Klement’s Hot Dogs and drinking down an ice cold Pepsi or Budweiser beer. Watch as dozens of people get the first swim of the year in Lake Namakagon at the Frozen Weenie Polar Bear Plunge, win prizes at the many games and enjoy great music while taking it all in. This event is the highlight of winter and rooms fill up quickly. Don’t miss out on this fantastic family event.
4 | American Outdoors Magazine
MARCH 2-6
4 WISCONSIN MUSKY EXPO, Rothschild. Fri, Mar 4, 2-9pm; Sat, Mar 5, 9am-6pm; Sun, Mar 6, 9am-3pm. If musky fishing is your thing, then this is the place to be! Check out the latest equipment, tackle, seminars and instructional panels during this three day expo. Daily admission is $8 or $16 for a three day pass. The first 200 people through the door with paid admission on Friday will receive a free musky lure. On Sunday the first 100 kids 12 or under and accompanied by a paying adult will receive a free musky rod.
8 WWE SmackDown, Milwaukee. Tues, March 8, 7pm. WWE SmackDown returns to the BMO Harris Bradley Center. See your favorite wrestlers in action when they return to Milwaukee before heading to WrestleMania in early April! Tickets are on sale now and start at just $15 (plus applicable fees)! See the following Superstars return to the BMOHBC: WWE World Heavyweight
Champion – Roman Reigns Sheamus; Intercontinental Champion – Dean Ambrose Kevin Owens; Bray Wyatt & The Wyatt Family Plus, many more! **Talent is subject to change.
11-13 CENTRAL WISCONSIN RV & CAMPING SHOW, Rothschild. Fri, Mar 11, 3pm-9pm; Sat, Mar 12, 10am-7pm; Sun, Mar 13, 10am-4pm. RVs, campers, camping equipment, campgrounds, destinations, seminars and family activities geared to the RV and camping experience.
12 ANNUAL VINTAGE SNOWMOBILE SHOW & SWAP MEET, Neillsville. Sat, March 12, 10am. Neillsville-Granton Trail Busters’ 10th Annual Snowmobile show & swap meet for sleds from 1985 or older.
12 WISCONSIN BIRD & GAME BREEDERS SPRING SWAP, Fond du Lac. Sat, March 12, 6:30am-12pm. Unique sale featuring pheasants, peafowl, water fowl, poultry, cage birds, and small animals. Buy, sell, trade. Sellers must have blood testing paperwork. Sponsored by WI Bird and Game Breeders Association.
www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 5
FISHING 1
Spooner Lake Spooner
2
Mason Lake New Haven Township
3
Lake Wissota Lafayette
4
Lake Eau Claire Eau Claire County
5
Lake Mendota Madison
6
Sheboygan Lake Sheboygan County
7
Lake Winnebago Oshkosh
8
Mosinee Flowage Marathon County
9
Eagle Lake Racine County
CAMPING 1 Apostle Islands
1 Black River State Forest
2 Big Musky Resort
2 Necedah National
3 Interstate Park State Road 35 St. Croix Falls
3 Horicon Marsh State
National Lakeshore Bayfield Peninsula 10211 Big Musky Rd Hayward
4 Glen Hills County Park 1049 Rustic Rd 3 Glenwood City,
5 Chapparal Campground 316 Dreamland Dr Wonewoc
6 Farmer Gene’s
Campground, LLC N11301 Kinney Lake Rd Marion
67,070 acres Black River Falls Wildlife Refuge 43,696 acres Juneau County
Wildlife Area 33,000 acres Dodge and Fond du Lac Counties
4 Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest 1,530,647 acres Northeast State
5 Governor Thompson State Park 2,800 acres Marinette County
7 Terrace View Campsites
6 Ackley State Wildlife Area 1,158 acres State Highway 64, Antigo
8 Afterglow Lake Resort
7 Tichigan Wildlife Area 1,521 acres Racine County
W5220 Terrace View Rd Tomahawk 5050 Sugar Maple Rd Phelps
9 NHAL
4125 Co Hwy K Boulder Junction
6 | American Outdoors Magazine
HUNTING
OUTDOOR RECREATION AREA MAP 1
WISCONSIN
Superior
Trego
9
3 1
2
New Post
Boulder Junction
8
9
2 Heafford Junction
7
St. Croix Falls
3 4
3
8
4
6
Marshfield
Green Bay
Stevens Point
94
1
Appleton
Wisconsin Rapids
5 90
Marinette
Wausau
Chippewa Falls Eau Claire
5
4
6
39
2
2
6
7 1
Oshkosh
4
La Crosse
Manitowoc 43
6
Fon Du lac
5
90
Sheboygan
3 Beaver Dam
Madison
5 7
Sun Prairie 94 90
43
Janesville
Milwaukee
West Allis
7
Beloit
94
Racine Kenosha
LAKES 1
Lake Winnebago
3 Chippewa Flowage
5 Little Pepin
2
Petenwell Lake
4 Castle Rock Lake
6 Lake Poygan 7 Lake Mendota www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 7
IT’S OK TO
POUT! by Tim Humphrey, The Pout Man
As the fall hunting and fishing seasons come to an end, there is one thing that enters my mind. Eelpout, burbot, lawyer, or as many of my friends refer to them as just POUT!
8 | American Outdoors Magazine
Many of you may have heard of these misunderstood fish, and many may have caught one or two of them. But most will never forget the way they try to wrap around your arm as you get them to release hold on your lure.
GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUN FISHING
For years, ice fishermen have just thrown them out on the ice, leaving them for the birds to pick clean. Surprisingly though, many people are actually targeting these creatures of the darkness. Often eelpout are referred to as bottom feeders, but that is far from the truth. Pout can be aggressive predators that will chase forage up several feet off the bottom. But despite that, they won’t pass up a free meal. So what is so great about pout you ask? First of all, these fish are cousins to the saltwater cod. They have nice boneless fillets, and can be prepared in many ways. Either fried, boiled, grilled, smoked or pickled. Most any way you can imagine. The fight that they can put up on the end of a short ice rod is second to none. Targeted at the right time of year, they can be caught during the day as well, providing great opportunities to take kids fishing as well.
Pout can typically be found in many of our deeper walleye lakes. Feeding at night through most of the winter, they are often accidentally caught as dark settles in and the walleye bite slows down. Most are caught on rattle reels or bobber rigs after dark. Successfully targeting this species requires a different approach. The first step in chasing pout is locating steep breaks near deep water. And when I say deep I’m talking 50-70’. I tend to focus my efforts around 30’ of water as a starting point. Studying the contours on my GPS, I look for subtle points and turns that the fish might follow as they move shallow to feed each evening. Considering that pout feed heavily at night, it would appear that they don’t have great vision. Unlike walleye that hunt after dark, the pout tend to struggle just a bit while chasing their prey. That being said, I always use glow in the dark lures. Large jigs and spoons 1 ounce or larger are my preference, tipped with a couple fatheads or pieces of minnows. When fishing is slow I don’t mind using spoons that have a treble hook. However, when fishing is good, I would rather use a jig to allow for the easy hook removal. You can grab a pout like a bass by the lower lip - which makes for easy hook outs. The inside of the mouth is rough like sandpaper and can shred your thumb up after catching several fish in one evening. TECHNIQUES FOR SUCCESS
So now that we have discussed location, let’s discuss technique - which can vary from one evening to the next. I start with a slow steady pounding on the bottom. Doing so creates a cloud of sediment around my lure. If I am using a lure with a rattle, this allows the full effect of the rattle as the lure hits the bottom. Using electronics to see the pout is sometimes out of the question. Fishing on steep continued ~ www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 9
breaks makes it nearly impossible to eliminate the sonar shadow created from the multiple depth readings your unit will be dealing with. Continue to methodically pound the bottom, pausing on occasion to give the fish a chance to attack the lure. Pout do not nibble. They tend to just inhale the entire lure and bait. Sometimes you will pause for that brief moment to allow the fish to strike, then began to let it drop, only to notice that you don’t feel the lure make contact with the bottom again. Why? The fish already has the lure in its mouth and all you need to do is give it a good solid hook set. Though pout can be caught and targeted the entire winter, February and March are the key months to catch these fish. As the days grown longer, the eelpout begin to form schools near shallow reefs and bars. They are preparing to spawn under the ice. Throughout most of the winter you will catch a good mix of males and females. However as the spawn approaches the males tend to become more aggressive, almost similar to many other species such as bluegills and bass. It would appear that they clear out the spawning grounds of anything that may jeopardize their reproductive efforts. As they spawn, schools of pout from a few, to hundreds will move up and down the structure. Rolling in a mass 10 | American Outdoors Magazine
as the females release their eggs and the males fertilize them. This process will last around a week or so, and the date at which it takes place varies from lake to lake. During the spawning period, fish can be caught around the clock, allowing for lots of action for anyone’s schedule. The warmer weather also allows many a chance to bring the kids out on the lake and battle some of these great fighters. Don’t overdo your harvest though, pout can be overfished. Many good pout lakes such as Leech Lake in Minnesota have shown a decline in the number of burbot being caught each year. I suggest keeping enough for a meal or two and just releasing the rest. Also, try fishing multiple spots if you make several trips to the lake. Taking a couple fish from this spot and a couple from the spot doesn’t impact the species quite as much. So, when walleye season comes to an end in most areas, go and target the camo predator known as the eelpout. You will truly enjoy the fight and flavor of these mysterious fish.
www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 11
12 | American Outdoors Magazine
STILL-HUNTING IN WINTER
TIPS
Still hunting is one of the most effective ways to hunt deer in the winter because they are a bit more sluggish and tend to stay in one general area where they know they can find food.
If you want to be a successful still hunter, there are two rules you simply must follow. First, go as slow as humanly possible. Second, hunt with the wind in your face. Sure, a time may come when you want to break these rules, but with experience, you’ll know when it’s right. Even taking a standard walking pace is detrimental to still hunting. Think about how slow you can go, and then take it down a notch. Take two slow steps and stop for about 30 seconds and look around. It’ll give you the advantage of spotting movement and the advantage of remaining undetected. You’re not going to cover a lot of ground this way, but you may get yourself a deer. Once you have the two rules down, there are some more tips that can help you have a successful hunt. continued ~ www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 13
HUNT IN SNOW OR LIGHT RAIN
GET IN THE THICK OF IT
It may seem counter-intuitive for you to be out in the rain or snow, but the precipitation will help hide your sound and scent. Deer seem to be more active in these conditions too, so it’s really a win-win.
Many hunters avoid the dense vegetation because it’s uncomfortable and can be difficult to see. But if you’re still hunting, this shouldn’t be as much of a problem. As you’re taking it slow, you can really take your time to look around. Squat down to get a better view under the dense cover, if that helps.
HUNT NEAR WATER
If you can find a creek or a stream, this is where you should focus most of your efforts. Deer tend to follow water, and the sound of flowing water can mask the sound of your footsteps. This may even allow you to pick up the pace a bit, but be careful about moving too quickly.
WEAR THE RIGHT BOOTS
You will always want to be able to find your way back from a hunt, but you don’t want to have to worry about where you are at all times. Get lost in the moment and start thinking like your prey.
This seems like such a simple tip, but it is so important to still hunting. Ill-fitting boots can make noises that will send the deer running, and that kind of defeats the purpose. Make sure your boots fit tightly, have solid support and a thin sole. As you walk, put your heel down first, and then slowly roll onto the ball of your foot. You should be able to feel branches and debris through your boot, so you can adjust accordingly. If you feel something, you may want to adjust your step.
CENTER YOURSELF
PRACTICE AHEAD OF TIME
Still hunting can be like a form of meditation. It is relaxing, but you have to work to stay in the moment. If you find your mind wandering, you may quicken your step and ruin what would otherwise be a great hunt. If you’re having trouble focusing, take a break. Have lunch or some water and think about why you’re there in the first place. This should help ground your thoughts and get you back on track.
With still hunting, there is no rest before the shot. Almost every shot will be off-hand, and you must be prepared for this. Practice before hunting season for the best chance for success.
SET YOUR GPS
14 | American Outdoors Magazine
www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 15
5 USEFULL TIPS ON
16 | American Outdoors Magazine
TROUT
FISHING
In fishing, trout are one of the favorite fishing friends of most anglers. These crafty fish are abundant anywhere. The native habitat of these crafty fish depends on the type of trout. For brook trout, the native habitat includes the territory from Labrador westward to the Saskatchewan, while the rainbow trout is a native of the Pacific slope from Alaska to California. On the other hand, brown trout has found its way into the waters of every state in the United States except Florida, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Texas. It has been reported in the waters of some of these states, but according to conservation officials, no authentic reports have been received. It is also found in many parts of Canada. In trout fishing, there are some factors that need to be considered in order to have a successful catch.
keep the fly from sinking or dragging because of the various conditions of the current, but this is a matter that the angler will have to figure out for himself. 3.
It is not good practice when fishing for trout to fish directly upstream so the flies, line, and leader will float directly over fish. The fisherman should make the cast from one side of the stream so the fly will only float over the fish.
4.
It is important to make the first cast the best. A feeding trout will usually strike the first lure presented if it is cast so that it will float over his private domain. The angler should never fail to fish the lower end of the pool first even if the trout are rising in the middle or upper end.
1.
For trout fishing, the leader should not be greased. It will not sink far enough to cause any 5. Trout are sometimes very moody or selective difficulty when picking the line and lure from and will try the patience of any angler; hence, the water, but if it is allowed to float; it will cast possibly a fly with less hackle will do the trick a shadow on the bottom of the stream which or it may be necessary to use a spent-wing fly may scare the trout. or a fan wing.
2.
The trout is one of the fishes that are usually secured through the use of the dry fly. For trout, the current as well as the pools should be fished. It may sometimes be a bit difficult to
Indeed, catching trout fishes can be lots of fun. The anglers just have to remember these tips in order to have a happy catch.
www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 17
LIVID LARGE
Ten years of persistence in both musky fishing and lure making is starting to pay off...big. by Corey Nazer
When I tell people that I “make� musky lures, I imagine they envision me huddled over a pile of wood shavings in a dark corner of my basement, whittling away at an indeterminately shaped creation. I am always happy to explain that Naze Baits is a business that has evolved into something a bit more.
18 | American Outdoors Magazine
Though the basement is still an integral part of the romance associated with our small company, we are finding ways to grow, scale the lure making process, and reach customers around the world. Our flagship lure, the Livid Fish has seen a surge in interest in recent years. More and more musky anglers have turned to this lure as their go-to crank bait, and even more so the trolling bait that provides the perfect set of characteristics for trolling big water for those solitary monsters. Originally a wood lure, over time we found enough interest in the Livid Fish that it warranted seeking out a Wisconsin-based injection molding company to manufacture our lure. The ease and durability of plastic allowed us to take the critical next step in the growth of the business.
As more lures sell and my connections with customers grow, I have occasionally had the good fortune of fishing with anglers who use the Livid Fish. On a recent trip to a big water lake in the upper Midwest, I finally accomplished something I have personally been wanting to do for a long time--land a true trophy fish on a “Livid”
was worth our time to continue fishing into the night. Having a monstrous lake almost entirely to yourself for a day and into the night might give a novice fisherman the feeling that their approach is flawed. An underconfident musky fisherman can talk themselves out of the tactics they know are best. Dave, and subsequently I, knew better.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
Our attempt in the end, however, was fruitless. Saturday came and went without a bite. As many anglers know, this is the reality of musky fishing; though it is never easy to accept a fishless day. We knew that the next day the winds were going to be upwards of 20 to 25 miles per hour, potentially keeping us off the water. For me, there was a bit of a sinking feeling that I would not get another shot in 2015 at a monster musky. Dave and I agreed we would assess the weather conditions in the morning and determine what we would do then.
Dave, a customer and now friend, had been trolling the Livid Fish for almost two seasons with a few truly noteworthy catches. In 2014, he had landed about a dozen muskies on the Livid Fish, all measuring 46 inches or more. The largest was a jaw dropping 55 incher that was taken in late fall. 2015 was off to an equally fast start. Dave had a streak of several weekends with at least one musky measuring 50 inches or more in the boat. When we finally set plans to fish together, it was late July, and the fishing was great. In eighteen hours of trolling, we landed four muskies. A 36-inch, a 43-inch, a 47-inch and a 50-inch all caught on a Livid Fish and released to fight another day. There was no doubt I would come back to fish with Dave again. Dave graciously invited me back for a September weekend to troll with him, giving me an opportunity to not only land another big musky, but also to employ the Livid Fish during a full moon—a situation that Dave had seen success with over the past couple years. For a bait maker, this was both valuable research and time on the water. I was excited to say the least.
Peering outside in the morning, the wind had the American flag in camp standing straight out. I suspected Dave would call it on account of wind and I would have to start packing for my four-hour drive home. Instead he suggested we attempt to avoid the wind by trailering the boat to the other side of the lake and fish where the waves were bearable. As long as it got us on the water, I was game for anything. continued ~
50 inch musky caught trolling the Livid Fish
Saturday at daybreak, we found ourselves set-up and trolling open water in an area that Dave had confidence in. I am not a troller by nature, so at times I can find my mind wandering. An angler can let the monotony of the landscape and the hum of the outboard lull him to a numbed and careless mindset. This, however, was not one of those times. Knowing that the biggest fish of my musky career could bite at Livid Fish Lure any time kept me focused and alert. Because of the full moon, we felt it
www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 19
After a half hour drive, landing the boat, and getting the baits dragging in the water, I was happy to be trolling and still watching the sun come up over the horizon. That meant we were still potentially able to take advantage of those precious few minutes remaining between the full moon that just set an hour earlier and the sun that was making it’s way higher by the minute. Suddenly the drag screamed, stopped, and screamed again. Having landed fish together in the past, Dave and I had some assemblage of a routine, so we went about our business preparing to land our first musky of the weekend. As soon as I grabbed the rod, felt a tug, and started to reel to gain some tension, I could tell this was not an enormous fish. When it surfaced, we both saw a healthy mid-thirty inch pike that had courageously consumed a Livid Fish for breakfast. We landed it, snapped a picture, and released it. Though it was the wrong species, it broke the ice and got us both thinking that this multi-day dry spell was coming to an end. We set up once again and settled in, now fighting bigger waves. The sun was over the horizon as we watched the poles pulsate with Livid Fish swimming behind and below the boat. The outboard revved as Dave steered the boat back into oncoming waves, preparing for another loop. The drag screamed again. We quickly replicated our previous routine, preparing the boat for another fish. The drag Corey Nazer hoists his largest musky taken on a Livid Fish, a 52-1/2�, 27-inch girth brute
20 | American Outdoors Magazine
continued to sound off, letting us know this was a fish that had size. I grabbed the rod as Dave very selflessly managed the boat and the wind. It was difficult to stand in the boat as the waves lifted us up and down. The drag continued to scream. We both cautiously speculated on the size of the fish, knowing that only big fish continually pull line out for this length of time. Finally the drag slowed, indicating on the line counting reel that I had nearly 200 feet to retrieve. I felt the far off head shakes immediately. They sent a message loud and clear that this was a powerful fish. Each time the fish gave me any indication it was coming my direction I turned the handle quickly. I knew it was going to be a lengthy fight and that any slack in the line could give the fish an opportunity to shake free. The angle of the line also indicated that the fish was starting to get closer to the surface. Perhaps he would break through the waves and perform one of those somersaults that muskies are so well known for. I prayed that it stay down, though I desperately wanted to see the fish. I could control slack in the line, but not if he was flying through the air. Suddenly, he made another run. The drag screamed again. The careful work of getting the fish closer to the boat had been lost as the line once again quickly left the reel. AN EPIC FIGHT
Musky fishermen always envision an epic fight. They can see it in their mind’s eye. It is as big a deal as holding the fish itself. Understanding what might be on the line, both literally and figuratively, I wanted this fight to be over and this fish to be in the net. Again, I started the slow job of getting this fighter back to the boat while trying to maintain my balance, as the waves had not subsided. The story unfolded as it had the first time; a few feet at a time, pausing for head shakes and another brief ten foot run. I began gaining on the brute, and I could feel it was starting to tire as well. Little by little the fish was both coming up and getting closer, but there was still no sighting. Each time I thought I would see a flash of a tail, the reel counter indicated I had plenty of fight left before that would happen.
the net quickly emerged out of the water and surrounded the fish. It was done. I knew it was the biggest fish of my angling career.
A 55-inch, late fall monster taken trolling the Naze Baits Livid Fish
Finally, I got the line counter down to less than 50 feet and knew I would see it soon. I also was getting cautiously confident that we had the hooks squarely in the fish’s mouth. Internally, I started to recognize that I had never before fought a fish this long.
Just observing it in the net, we knew it was heavy. The belly was so much bigger than any I had ever seen. Bringing it into the boat was a two-man job. As we laid it on the bump board to get a measurement, its belly was as impressive as its length. Almost 52 ½ inches! Easily the biggest I had ever landed. Dave and I congratulated each other and continued to marvel at the size of the fish. It was almost impossible to lift the fish for a picture. I struggled to get the slimy, heavy creature out in front of my body. I made several attempts to hoist it, struggling with the girth and pouring belly. I had to brace it against myself before I could muster enough sustained energy to support the weight and manage a grimacing smile.
Before I knew it, my time with the fish was done, and we had to get it back in the water. The satisI saw a streaking flash beneath the water a ways faction of catching my biggest musky on my own from the port side of the boat, then a violent head lure was starting to set in. Dave stopped me briefly, shake still not showing itself fully nor breaking “Let’s get a girth measurement quick.” He hurriedly the surface. Again another submerged flash, this grabbed the flexible tape measure and pulled it time revealing much of its profile just below the tight around the largest portion of the musky’s surface of the water. This was a very large fish. The belly. 27 inches! Even Dave, who had caught many adrenaline began pumping. Selfishly, I wanted this large muskies before, was impressed. “You might fish in the net. catch a longer fish in your life, but you won’t catch a fatter one,” he exclaimed as I hung over the boat, The boat side struggle that so many musky fisherman placing the giant musky back in the water. are accustomed to began in earnest. Back and forth it swam, seemingly dodging attempts to move the I always take stock of my blessings as I hold the net in. Nervous about additional runs, I thumbed base of a big musky’s tail, releasing it back to its the spool and gave the fish back some line. Reeling home. It happens so infrequently that you have again, I tried to pick an end of the boat so Dave to be in awe of the moment. could net at the other end. I knew Dave would pick As I drove home that evening, I reflected on the the right moment to put the net in the water, but decade of lure making that was behind me. I was getting the fish to the side of the boat was the so excited about that fish, the weekend, the sport problem. Working with only about 15 feet of line of musky fishing, and the Livid Fish with teeth out and attempting to tame a thrashing fish that was breaking the surface more than it was swimming, marks on it as it lay on the passenger seat next to me. My hope is that the lure brings other I pulled the rod tip awkwardly to my left. Dave, anglers the satisfaction it brought me that day. on the deck of the boat to my right, timed his I think it will. movements well. The fish slid past boat side, and www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 21
BEST WAYS TO GET YOUR KIDS INTO
HUNTING & FISHING by Michael Smith
22 | American Outdoors Magazine
With the advancements in technology these days, it’s getting harder and harder to get our kids out to enjoy the great outdoors. If you’ve decided it’s time pull them away from their devices and get a taste of hunting or fishing, you’ll need to do it a little differently than usual if you want to do it more than once. Your years of experience mean that you know the adventures to be had and memories to be made when hunting or fishing. But a poorly thought out trip with the kids can mean it may be their last. Here are some great ideas to help you make sure that you get the most out of the experience, and more importantly, that the kids will want to do it again. YOUR EXPECTATIONS VS. THE KIDS
Let’s put this out on the table early as it is probably the biggest hurdle to making sure they trip goes as planned. Their expectations are probably far from the idea of patiently waiting in a blind for hours. This hunting or fishing trip is about them and it’s your job to make sure that this is an exciting adventure that they will remember. That probably means that this won’t be like your usual hunting or fishing trips.
Don’t forget how much you enjoy planning these trips, the kids will too and will increase their excitement and anticipation. If they’ll be the only child going, let them invite a friend to share the experience. 2. Weather
Make sure that you keep an eye on the weather forecast and that the kids are prepared for the event that the weather doesn’t work out and you may have to reschedule. You can avoid this by happening with some careful planning. Aim for a season that has the most reliable weather. If the kids are cold and shivering in the woods, it’s not going to make for an enjoyable experience for them. Children are more easily affected by weather conditions than adults and it can be dangerous to assume that they will be able to handle the conditions.
If they’re not enjoying themselves, you can be sure that you won’t either. So make sure you meet their expectations, not the other way around.
Moderate temperatures with a low chance of rain are best.
PREPARATION AND PLANNING
You may love spending a whole day in the woods or on a boat but the kids might not. Most kid’s attention spans are pretty short. You don’t want to spend hours just getting to the perfect location, only to find out the kids are bored and want to go home.
There are a few things you can do upfront to give the kids a taste of the joys of hunting and fishing. 1.
Plan Together
It might seem logical to want to plan the whole thing yourself. After all, you’ve done it all before and know what works. But there’s a lot to be said for planning with the kids. Not only will you get an idea for what they might like so you can plan around that, but it will help to keep their expectations realistic.
3. Location and Duration
Pick somewhere close by, or if it’s a trip over a few days, make sure that the good hunting fishing spots are close by so to keep it short. For your first outings, you’ll want to try and keep it under an hour. continued ~ www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 23
SAFETY
MAKE IT FUN
So the trip is planned, everyone is excited and you’re feeling confident. Before you even get started, you need to think safety, and keep on thinking safety the whole time.
If you’re heading into the woods, make it an adventure. Don’t expect to sit in a blind all day long. Instead, make the hunt active by walking through the woods. It will feel like an adventure. Teaching the kids about local plants and animals and playing simple games like “I Spy” are easy to do and can distract from the boredom if there’s not much happening.
If your child has never fired a gun before, make sure that they are used to the rifle and to use it safely before you even head out. If you’re spending the day on the boat, fiddling with hooks isn’t a great idea for younger kids. If they’re a bit older, make sure you show them how to bait their hook safely. Make sure that the kids are dressed in layers so they can cope with unexpected changes in temperature. If you’re on the boat, always keep the life jackets on. Most importantly, don’t take any safety shortcuts yourself. You may teach the kids about safety, but if you display a different behavior, they’ll likely do the same.
If you’re heading out on the water to do some fishing, make sure that you have the right gear for their size. Lightweight rods and line will spot them from tiring out too easily. The fish aren’t always biting, so make sure you can keep them entertained. Getting in the water can ensure that the day is still fun, even if you don’t make a catch so make sure you grab the swimming and snorkel gear. The best thing you can do is to listen to your kids. They’ll likely tell you if they don’t want to do something. Don’t force it. If a child is forced to make a shot and kill and animal, it will be incredibly upsetting and almost guarantee that it will be their last time. If all goes well, listening to what they liked will help plan for next time. Just remember, this is about creating an experience with your kids and building lasting memories. If you plan to get outdoors with the goal of having fun, then you probably will.
24 | American Outdoors Magazine
www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 25
THE SCIENCE BEHIND
HOW DEER SEE AND HUNTING TIPS Vision is the most investigated human sense owing to the magnitude of its importance. Vision can be defined as the physiological response to an objective stimulus generated by the physical nature of the object viewed.
26 | American Outdoors Magazine
MUCH LIKE A HUMAN EYE
The eye has a simple working mechanism; basically, light is either reflected or passes through an object and enters the eye. Once in the eye, it is concentrated at the back on a structure called the retina. The retina is full of light sensitive cells that are connected to the optic nerve. Once the light is absorbed by the photo sensitive cells, it is sent to the brain for interpretation. As a hunter, understanding how your prey sees can be the difference between you having a good kill and you going home empty handed. A deer’s eyes are very similar to human’s eyes in terms of the structural components that help it to perceive light. Various scientists have suggested that the vision of a deer is greater than a human’s due to the following features. A LARGE FIELD OF VISION
The pupil, this is the part of the eye that appears to be at the very center. Deer’s have a horizontally slit pupil which is in contrast to the human pupil which is not slit. This means that the deer has a wider field view of about 270º. The location of the eyes on the sides of the deer’s head also enhances a larger field of view. This being true, deer’s however, have low visual acuity of about 20/40 meaning they can only make out fine details of an object within the range of 20-40 meters. This is great news for hunters since even if the deer sees you it will not differentiate you from a tree if you aren’t within its visual scope. This ‘problem’ can be dealt with by ensuring that during the hunt you are not directly located in the direction of the deer’s nose since they will attain a binocular view which is more accurate. The deer sees better during the night. The retina has two types of photo receptor cells; rods and cones. Rods pick up low intensity light while cones pick up colour which is high intensity light. The concentration of rods in humans is lower
than in deer’s, they are thus able to see better during the night. Deer’s have a reflective substance at the back of their eyes on the retina called the Tapetum lucidum. This reflective part of the eye is important since it allows a kind of double vision through light perception. When light enters into the deer’s eye, it goes through the lenses and onto the tapetum which reflects the light back to the lenses. The lens in turn reflects the light to the retina. This means that the retina is given a chance to perceive and transmit the light twice. ADVANTAGES IN VISION
The deer has two other advantages in terms of vision. Namely; it has no UV filter and it perceives some wavelengths better than others. Lack of a UV filter means a deer can perceive UV light. The deer’s eyes have two kinds of cones as compared to a human’s which has three. The cones present can only perceive short and middle wavelengths of the light spectrum such as violet and blue. This means that colors such as red which have long wavelengths are perceived as being grey in a deer’s eye. Hunters can thus be on the safer side by avoiding clothes washed in UV based detergents and dyes. The other basic things that a hunter can do to make a kill are being still and to musk his scent using scent blocks or replacers. Despite their questionable sense of sight, deer’s have a great sense of smell and sound. Due to their ability to perceive light of shorter and middle length wavelengths, deer’s perceive the color blue perfectly. They are also able to perceive yellow quite well. Beware hunters; it is not a good day to wear blue. Try wearing colors such as red, green, and orange as studies suggest they appear gray to them.
www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 27
FISHING
THE GREAT LAKES THERE’S NOTHING LIKE IT!
28 | American Outdoors Magazine
Fishing the Great Lakes can be one of those experiences that will leave you wondering why you waited so long to try it. It will bring you back year after year in search of that fish of a lifetime—or just some big fillets for the grill. With so many ports that are available around the Great Lakes, and so many Charters to choose from, where do you start? Let’s face it, not all Charters are created equal. For as many great experiences out there that have been had, there have been some bad ones too. We had a chance recently to sit down with Screamin Drag Sportfishing Charters, a reputable charter service and accomplished tournament angling team, and discuss some of those concerns.
your normal Charter service you find on Lake Michigan. We let you know ahead of time how the fishing has been and the weather forecast. So if it isn’t up to your expectations, we can either reschedule or cancel all together. We don’t even take a deposit. We treat our clients with respect and they treat us with respect in turn. Just have fun, that’s what it’s all about. We have had so many clients that come out and tell us horror stories of being charged when a line breaks and the bait is lost. Getting yelled at when they lose a fish. That’s not what fun sounds like to us at Screamin Drag. We like to have fun. We are a low stress, low-key, family owned business that prides ourselves on our clients’ happiness.
AOM: Wayne, welcome to American Outdoors Magazine. Tell us a little bit about Screamin Drag Charters.
AOM: That sounds great Wayne! What is it about the Great Lakes that draws so many fishermen/ women to it?
SD: Thank you Melissa, it is a real honor to be here. Screamin Drag Charters is a Christian family owned and operated Charter service as well as a professional tournament team. We had our first tournament win just two years into fishing the trail. We run Charters out of Sheboygan, WI from May through September and focus primarily on whatever our clients are looking for. At Screamin Drag we don’t just book a date and hold you to that date regardless of the weather or how the fishing is. We try to book a trip around whatever is going to make our clients happy. If what they are looking for are rainbows, we target rainbows. If they want every fish to be a king, we try to plan a trip around that. We even do tutoring sessions so you can take the information back to your own boat and catch fish. Our clients’ happiness is what is most important to us! To be honest, we are just a bit different than
SD: Well Melissa, the Great Lakes is a fishery that draws people from thousands of miles in search of that fish of a life time. As a matter of fact, one of our clients that come back year after year is actually from Russia. It is a fishery that every time a rod goes off, it could be that “one” and that really excites people. So many people are smaller lake fisherman and have a hard time picturing a rainbow trout that can break the surface and leap 3 feet in the air, or a King that literally rips out 150’ of line in mere seconds. It’s just so different and there is only one place to find it—here in the Great Lakes! continued ~ www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 29
AOM: Fishing out of Sheboygan, what kind of fish do you catch? SD: Actually, we get this question a lot. Sheboygan is primarily known for being a large king salmon fishery, but we also have very good numbers of rainbow trout, brown trout and lake trout. Certain years we find good numbers of Coho salmon as well. Our season normally starts out in April to May for brown trout, but once the water warms enough to snap the fish out of winter mode, boats are headed off shore looking for that big king or lake trout. The water continues to set up developing thermoclines and we are in action! June and July are normally very good months for double digit catches. The season can continue like this all the way into the end of August, when the bigger kings begin to stage for the fall spawning run. This can be another very popular time as fishermen line the piers looking for mature kings weighing up to 30 pounds. And boats work the harbor area and out front. The 2015 season brought us our first 20-pound lake trout, a 15-pound rainbow trout and several large kings. Our largest king salmon came in 2003 at 29.11 pounds and was 42 inches long... a hard fish to beat. AOM: What advice do you have for someone who is thinking of heading out on their own to try their luck at catching those BIG ones? SD: That question is a little more complicated. So many people look at us and think, “God I wish I could fish and get paid to do it”. What they don’t understand is all of the hard work it takes to be successful. The best piece of advice I can give is just submerse yourself in every bit of information you can find. Research; learn what baits to run, how to run those baits and then why you run those baits. Watch what the weather does and the water temperatures. When I first started I had a used 30 | American Outdoors Magazine
boat, a couple rods, and big dreams. I found a respectable web site that posted fishing reports and downloaded hundreds of fishing reports that spanned years. I laid them out and analyzed all the similarities. Water temps, depths of water, baits used, colors for the baits, what those baits caught, etc. Next, I hooked up with a reputable Charter Captain and booked some trips. That same Captain is the one who gave me the idea to be a Captain myself. Lastly, and probably the hardest for the average guy to do, take notes. Building that knowledge is a large part of being successful. That is also why we decided to become a professional tournament team. We take it to the next step, learn the newest tactics and learn the latest gear that is out there. This is information most Charter boats don’t really do. We incorporate those tactics into our Charter fishing to be even more successful. AOM: Wayne, we really appreciate this time you spent with us answering our questions. We just have one more. If our subscribers want to book a charter, what are some of the things they should look for in a Charter Service? SD: There are a lot of reputable, honest, hardworking Charter services out there. Unfortunately, there are some that are not. This past spring, we were at a sport show when a couple came to our booth and asked us if we were the “best” Charter on Lake Michigan. Lol—I was really surprised by that. Our answer was pretty simple. We would never claim to be the best, but we can promise you that we will work our tails off to give you the best experience that we possibly can. In reality, fishing is fishing and I think most fisherman already realize that. But there is a difference between that and knowing ahead of time the fishing is poor, not saying anything to your clients and taking them anyway.
Finding a reputable, honest Charter service isn’t difficult. You just need to ask the right questions and really listen to the answers. “If we need to cancel last minute for good reason, will we get our deposit back?” If you get the “oh yeah, oh yeah, not an issue there” you may want to ask more probing questions. If the Captain is taking the time to explain to you the ins and outs of getting a deposit back, in my opinion, they are more reputable because they are willing to treat you like a person and take the time to talk to you. If they don’t take a deposit at all, like we do at Screamin Drag, that’s even better.
important thing! The fish will be there, the boat will be shiny and the bait pretty. But if you are not going to be treated well, if you’re going to face hidden charges or have a first mate yell at you because you lost a fish—does it really matter how many fish you end up with if you don’t enjoy the experience?
“If fishing is slow, will you allow us to reschedule for a better time?” Everyone likes to talk about all the fish they catch. Most Charters don’t like to talk about the bad days. Ask them about the bad days and see how they respond. Everyone has them. Even the “best” Charter Captain has had bad days—whether or not they post it on Facebook.
AOM: Thank you again for spending this time with us. If our readers would like to get more information, what’s the best way for them to contact you?
Fishing is fishing, but how are the Captain and his crew going to treat you? You are the most
SD: Thank you for having us! It is a real honor to be part of American Outdoors Magazine. If readers would like to know more about us they can reach us either by checking out our website or liking us on Facebook. www.ScreaminDragCharters.com
www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 31
THE HISTORY OF FOX HUNTING
Fox Hunting has always been seen as a British activity during which highly trained dogs, as well as human hunters on horseback, pursue the red fox. Animal rights activists find the blood sport to be barbaric. However, its participants and proponents see it to be a traditional equestrian sport, as well as an important aspect of England’s aristocratic history. In fact, even though it does take place in several countries, its roots can be traced to the British.
Animal rights activists find the blood sport to be barbaric. However, its participants and proponents see it to be a traditional equestrian sport, as well as an important aspect of England’s aristocratic history. In fact, even though it does take place in several countries, its roots can be traced to the British.
HUNTING TRADITIONS
HUNTING TRADITIONS
Known as venery, the use of scent hounds to track prey dates way back to Assyrian, Babylonian, and also ancient Egyptian times. But, it was in England, using the Agassaei breed of dog, that fox hunting was really popular, taking place before the Romans even arrived.
Known as venery, the use of scent hounds to track prey dates way back to Assyrian, Babylonian, and also ancient Egyptian times. But, it was in England, using the Agassaei breed of dog, that fox hunting was really popular, taking place before the Romans even arrived.
32 | American Outdoors Magazine
Later, the Romans brought over the Castorian and Fulpine breed of hounds, as well as the brown hare and several species of deer to use as quarry. Wild boar was also known as a hunted animal. Norman hunting traditions began when William the Conqueror arrived, using Gascon and Talbot hounds. In fact, the cry of tally ho is the Norman equivalent to the French il est haut, meaning he is up. 1534 marks the first known attempt at fox hunting, taking place in Norfolk, England. Farmers used their dogs to chase foxes as a way of pest control. It wasn’t until the 17th century that organized pack began to hunt hare and fox, while it those used specifically for the sport of fox hunting weren’t used until the 18th century. MODERNIZED CHANGES
The Industrial Revolution saw people moving out of the country, instead settling in towns and cities where they could find work. Even though roads, rails, and canals split up the hunting land, it made it more accessible to people who wanted to hunt. Also, the improvement of shotguns during the 19th century allowed for game shooting to gain popularity.
Even though it is viewed as a usually typical rural British sport, hunting using hounds does take place all over. Those hunts in the U.S., Canada, Ireland, and also India are considered to be, to some extent, a British Empire legacy. However, some do claim that the first pack that was used solely for fox hunting was in the United States. Other countries, influenced by the Greek and Romans, also have a tradition of fox hunting using hounds. For example, both France and Italy still have fox hunts. But, in countries such as Switzerland and Germany, fox hunting has been outlawed. As of 2004, 170 registered packs found in the United States and Canada were included by the Masters of Foxhounds Association of America, as well as many more farmer, or non-recognized, packs. When fox hunting is done in the United States, the pursued fox is often not caught. In fact, they are trained so they aren’t caught during the fox hunt. During the late summer, young hounds are taken on hunts called cubbing, during which puppies are taught to hunts while the young foxes are taught to give chase. The proper season usually begins in early November.
www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 33
34 | American Outdoors Magazine
TAKING THE PERFECT TROPHY HUNT
PHOTOS
by John Peltier
Follow these simple steps for taking the perfect trophy hunt photo. You’ve just spent all day stalking that buck or sitting in your jon boat waiting for that giant bass. And now that you’ve emerged victorious after a hard day’s work, you need to make sure you properly preserve this moment! 1. PREPARATION
First and foremost—clean the animal and make it presentable for the camera! This doesn’t necessarily require a proper field dressing but you will want to make sure that you don’t gross out Nana too bad when you show off the photo. You should have some wipes with you, and if you don’t, even a rag and some water will work. Clean all that blood off of the animal’s face, especially around the nose and mouth. Tuck that tongue back in the mouth and keep the mouth shut with either a small piece of string or strong rubber band (avoiding the bright blue and pink rubber bands!). continued ~ www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 35
Note the side of the animal that’s injured and focus on the opposite side for extra cleaning—that’s the side that will face the camera. You don’t want a bloody puncture wound right in front of the camera. 2. LIGHTING
This may not be something that you think about but it’s time you start! In order to bring out all of the details and show proper depth and dimension, it’s important to consider where the sun is while taking your trophy photo. These are your priorities for lighting, in descending order: • side light • front light • back light Side lighting, with the sun 45-60 degrees off to the side, will do a few things in your favor. It will light up both you and your kill but it won’t blind you. It will also cast some slight shadows across the surface of both you and your kill, giving it a “three-dimensional” look. And it will also light up and add some dimension to the background. Front lighting will do many of the same things as side lighting except that it won’t cast as many shadows. You and your kill may appear “flat”. You may have noticed this phenomenon when a camera flashes—there’s not much dimension to the photo. Fortunately, it shouldn’t be difficult to rotate slightly to put the sun off to an angle.
36 | American Outdoors Magazine
Back lighting should be avoided if at all possible. The camera will have a difficult time choosing the proper exposure when the sun is at your back and you will get some messy and unpredictable results. Either you & your kill will be dark while your background is properly exposed; or you will be exposed correctly and your background will be bright white. You just don’t know, and none of those sound good, right? Another consideration on lighting, one that will really make your photos pop. Have you heard of the “golden hour”? It’s that hour before & after sunrise and sunset. If you can afford it, try to take your photo in the hour before sunset or hour after sunrise. You’ll get some great colors in the sky and a nice warm glow on your trophy! If you must take your photo around midday, use passing clouds to your advantage. Clouds will diffuse the light and soften the shadows some, providing a more even spread of light throughout the scene. This will help you avoid hard shadows and too much contrast. Also, if the sun is high, be mindful of shadows that a brimmed hat might cast on your face – you’ll want to avoid these shadows. 3. POSING
Things you want to consider while setting up the pose with your trophy: capture the environment, the size of your kill, and of course make yourself look good too!
If you caught that trout in a wide blue river surrounded by majestic mountains, show it off! Don’t take the picture in front of your tent or car! If you used a boat, include the boat in the photo too (sit in it?). Photos of fish and small fowl work best while standing, with the camera at or just below eye level. This will show off the environment in the background, and having the camera slightly lower will make your catch look a little bigger. With large game, it’s best to kneel next to the animal and get more of the sky. For example, if you can photograph the rack against the sky, it will look bigger than if it were in front of trees and grass. These photos should also be taken from a slightly lower angle – never be kneeling for a photo with the camera at a standing height. And as discussed earlier, make sure your animal is clean and hide the puncture/kill wound. If you have a camera with a zoom lens, shooting at the widest angle possible will also make your trophy look larger. This is because the animal will take up the same amount of space in the photo but more of the background will show, creating the illusion of a larger trophy. Finally, don’t forget to include your equipment! Many people will sling their rifle or bow over their shoulder, and that’s fine, but you don’t want it to be completely hidden behind your body. Instead
of slinging it over your shoulder, try holding it in front of you, letting it rest on the “shoulder pocket”. This will even work if you need both hands to hold up the head of your trophy. If this won’t work, you can as a last resort rest it on the ground or lean it up against the animal. 4. GETTING THE SHOT
Are you by yourself? If so you’ll need a way to hold the camera, and a self-timer. Small portable tripods work best with DSLRs and point-and-shoot cameras, like the Gorillapod or Ultrapod. These are best for those low-level shots. For camera phones you can get creative by propping them up on your backpack, or using a bungee to lash them to a tree branch. Don’t take just one photo! The guidelines above are just guidelines. Experiment to see what works best for your specific situation. You will want to remember this day, and after all you did for it, why only take one photo? If you took the photo with a camera phone or camera with wifi connection, email the photos to yourself before you even get home. If something happens to your camera/phone on the way home, at least you’ll have the photo waiting for you when you get back. And when you do get back, download the photos right away. Use these tips and watch the “Facebook likes” start flooding in!
www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 37
Winter backpacking tips Winter backpacking can mean your footprints are the only ones out there. That adds to the beauty of the experience, but also to the danger. Alone and in a cold environment, it’s important to know what to do in an emergency. Learning a few basic cold weather survival skills can save your life. FIRE MAKING
Imagine slipping into a stream and soaking everything with you, when you are more than a day from the nearest road and it’s below freezing out. What would you do? Start a fire, of course, but can you? Always carry waterproof matches, and practice starting a fire in the cold BEFORE you go winter backpacking. Learn which tinder works even when
38 | American Outdoors Magazine
wet. Birch bark, for example, will burn when wet, and so will sap from pines and spruces. You may have only minutes before your fingers get too cold to function, so speed is of the essence. WINTER BACKPACKING —SURVIVAL SHELTERS
You’ll probably have a tent with you, but you still may want to learn shelter building using snow blocks. Sometimes you can stomp out blocks without tools, using your feet, and then lift them
from beneath. Just play around in your backyard until you get the hang of it. In an emergency, or if the weather turns extremely cold, you may want to put your tent behind a wall of snow blocks, to stop the wind. If it isn’t raining, a quick survival shelter for warmth is a pile of dry leaves, grass, broken ferns or other plants. I once collected enough dried grass from a frozen swamp in thirty minutes to make a pile several feet thick. I slept warmly in the middle of it (half the insulating grass above, half below) with just a jacket, despite below freezing temperatures. STAYING DRY
You can be wet and warm when it far below freezing, as long as you are active. The moment you stop moving, however, you start to lose your body heat. Once you get chilled through, it is difficult to get
warm again. Hypothermia (a lowered body temperature) kills many people every year. If you get wet, try to get dry before you go to sleep. Put dry clothes on if you have them, and use a fire to dry any wet clothes. Earlier in the day, you may be able to hang damp clothes on your pack to dry in the sun. Often when it is coldest, the air is dryer. Try not to sweat. Adjust your layers, removing and adding shirts, sweaters and jackets as necessary to keep from getting too hot or too cold. Sweat, and clothes damp with sweat, will cause you to lose body heat fast once you stop moving. Stay dry to stay warm. There are many other cold weather survival skills that you may want to learn. (You can generate heat by eating fatty foods, for example.) You don’t need to know hundreds of skills and techniques, but why not learn a few basics, like the ones above, before your next winter backpacking trip?
www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 39
40 | American Outdoors Magazine
GREAT RECIPE
Try this amazing recipe today! GLORIOUS GARLIC MOOSE ROAST Serves 4 to 6 1 (3-4 pound) moose roast* 1 envelope of onion soup mix 1 teaspoon of Glorious Garlic Seasoning or Peppercorn Ranch 2 cans of Coca Cola Add moose roast to crock-pot, sprinkle with onion soup mix and Glorious Garlic or Peppercorn Ranch Seasoning. Pour coke all around base of roast. Cover and cook on low for about 7 or 8 hours. Remove, and let stand before slicing. *Also works great with beef, pork, bear, venison and chicken! See more at: www.ilovedip.com
Starla’s Seasonings, Dips & Mixes From savory to sweet, there is a seasoning or dip mix flavor to please every pallet! Starla’s Gourmet Seasonings, Dip and Mixes is your one stop shop for all your seasoning and dippy needs! Starla’s seasoning blends are as unique as their names and are certain to complement any event. Whether you’re hosting a party, looking for a gift for a special friend, tailgating or just in the mood for flavor—we are here for you! We are a Wisconsin family run business. Every package is made with the finest quality ingredients we can find, hand packed and labeled. All of my dip mixes and seasonings have no MSG and no gluten. Easy recipes are on the back of each package for a variety of appetizer, main course and dessert options. Visit us at: www.ilovedip.com or like us on Facebook! www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 41
WISCONSIN CAMPGROUND AMENITIES PARK OR FORREST
SITES
ELECTRICAL HOOK UPS
WATER
RESERVATIONS
Amnicon Falls State Park
2 plowed (sites 8 & 11)
Yes
Available through hand pumps in the campground
No
Big Bay State Park
5 plowed (sites 26-30) 55 walk-in
Yes
Available through hand pumps in their campground
No
Black River State Forest
3-5 plowed; 40 walk-in
5 - Castle Mound
Yes
Group camp only
Blue Mound State Park
25 walk-in
Yes
Yes (next to dumpsters at the campground entrance)
No
Brule River State Forest
35 (not plowed)
No
Yes
No
Brunet Island State Park
5 sites plowed; walk-in
Yes - 2 unplowed
Yes (at hand pumps by campground)
No
Buckhorn State Park
2 walk-in; 1 plowed
Yes -1 site
Yes (at park office)
No
Devil’s Lake State Park
9 group camp sites
None currently
Yes
Not currently
Copper Falls State Park
4 plowed
No
Yes (available at the maintenance area)
Yes - year round
Flambeau River State Forest
29 sites (8 plowed)
No
Yes (hand pump)
No
Glacial Drumlin State Trail (Sandhill Station)
16 walk-in
No
Yes
No
Governor Dodge State Park
35 sites 8 plowed 6 walk-in
Yes (12 electric; 4 plowed)
Yes (at park office)
No
Governor Thompson State Park
3 remote - walk-in sites
No
Yes (at Woods Lake picnic area)
No
High Cliff State Park
3 unplowed sites
No
Yes (at park office)
No
Interstate State Park
40 walk-in (2-plowed)
No
Yes (hand pump at Group Camp, mechanical pump 0.5-mile past visitor center at stone building)
No
Kettle Moraine State Forest - Northern Unit
79 winter sites at the Mauthe Lake campground (7 plowed); plus 5 backpack shelters
Yes (51 sites; 7 plowed)
Yes (there is a wellhead spigot outside the Mauthe Lake contact station and 4 other water sites along the Ice Age Trail for the shelters)
No (backpack shelters Yes)
This table lists campsites that are open during the winter. “Water” means a faucet or pump in or near the campground. None of the sites have water hookups.
42 | American Outdoors Magazine
PARK OR FORREST
SITES
ELECTRICAL HOOK UPS
WATER
RESERVATIONS
Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit
99 at Ottawa Lake, 10 of them plowed, plus 2 walk-in sites (with plowed parking area) and 3 backpack shelters (along the Ice Age Trail)
Yes (6 plowed)
Spigot located on west side of Ottawa Contact Station and 8 locations along the Ice Age Trail.
No (backpack shelters-Yes)
Kohler-Andrae State Park
10 plowed, 18 unplowed
Yes
Hand pump in campground and water tap at the dump station
No
Lake Wissota State Park
116 walk-in (campground not plowed, call ahead for conditions)
Yes (59 sites)
Yes (at office and shop)
No
Mirror Lake State Park
7
Yes (all plowed)
Yes (at office; requires hose)
No
Newport State Park
16 backpack; 1 group backpack
No
Yes (at office)
No
Northern Highland American Legion State Forest
3 sites plowed at Clear Lake
No
Yes (faucet in front of Clear Lake Ranger Station; hose required)
No
Pattison State Park
62 sites, two of them plowed (33 & 34) 3 backpack
Yes (18 including one plowed site - 33)
Yes (at office)
No
Peninsula State Park
6 plowed sites at Tennison Bay
Yes
Yes, at the well house on the main road in Tennison Bay campground
No
Point Beach State Forest
5 plowed
Yes
Yes (at office)
No
Potawatomi State Park
29 sites, 4 plowed
Yes
Yes (at campground shelter, hose required)
No
Richard Bong State Recreation Area
6 plowed sites (1 electric) and 1 plowed group site
Yes (1 family campsite)
Yes (near site 6 and at entrance station)
No
Turtle Flambeau Scenic Waters Area
Sites 1-60 (island campsites), walk-in; no snowmobiles allowed on islands
No
No
No
Wildcat Mountain State Park
4 walk-in
No
Yes (frost free faucet at maintenance shop)
No
Willow River State Park
30 unplowed
Yes (9 sites)
Yes (at office or service building, hose required)
No
Wyalusing State Park
32 sites (28 unplowed, 4 plowed)
Yes (9 sites)
Yes (at winter water hydrant behind the shower building)
No
www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 43
WISCONSIN HUNTING SEASON DATES For the hunters who need to plan in advance, here is a list of when you can hunt particular animals during their allotted hunting season. SPECIES
GAME ZONE
DEER Archery & Crossbow All game zones Youth Deer Hunt Gun Deer Hunt for Hunters w/disabilities Gun Muzzleloader Statewide Antlerless Hunt BEAR Archery & Crossbow
Zone C where dogs are not permitted
SEASONS Sept. 17–Jan. 8, 2017 Oct. 8 & 9 Oct. 1–9 Nov. 19–27 Nov. 28–Dec. 7 Dec. 8–11 Sept. 7–Oct. 11 (with aid of bait & all other legal methods not using dogs)
All other zones where dogs are permitted
Sept. 7–13 (with aid of bait & all other legal methods not using dogs) Sept. 14–Oct. 4 (with aid of dogs, bait & other legal methods) Oct. 5–11 (with aid of dogs only)
COYOTE Hunting All game zones Trapping
Continuous open season Oct. 15–Feb. 15, 2017
BEAVER Trapping
Zone A (Northwest) Zone B (Northeast) Zone C (South) Zone D (Mississippi River)
Nov. 5–Apr. 30, 2017 Nov. 5–Apr. 30, 2017 Nov. 5–Mar. 31, 2017 Day after duck season closes to Mar. 15, 2017
MINK AND MUSKRAT Trapping
Statewide Mississippi River Zone
Oct. 22–Mar. 5, 2017 Nov.14–Mar. 5, 2017
FOX (red and grey) Hunting and Trapping
Statewide
Oct. 15–Feb. 15, 2017
BOBCAT (red and grey) Hunting and Trapping (permits rqd)
Period 1 Period 2
Oct. 15–Dec. 25 Dec. 26–Jan. 31, 2017
OTTER Trapping (permits required)
North Zone Central Zone South Zone
Nov. 5–Apr. 30, 2017 Nov. 5–Mar. 31, 2017 Nov. 5–Mar. 31, 2017
RACCOON Hunting and Trapping
Resident Non-resident
Oct. 15–Feb. 15, 2017 Oct. 29–Feb. 15, 2017
OPOSSUM, SKUNK, WEASEL & SNOWSHOE HARE
No season limits, bag limits, size limits or possession limits, but a license is required.
COTTONTAIL RABBIT
Northern Zone Southern Zone
44 | American Outdoors Magazine
Sept. 17–Feb. 28, 2017 Oct. 15 (9 AM)–Feb. 28, 2017
SPECIES
GAME ZONE
SEASONS
SQUIRRELS Gray and Fox
Statewide
Sept. 17–Jan. 31, 2017
TURKEY Youth Turkey Hunt
Statewide
Apr. 9 & 10
Open Zones: Spring
Period A Period B Period C Period D Period E Period F
Apr. 13–19 Apr. 20–26 Apr. 27–May 3 May 4–10 May 11–17 May 18–24
Open Zones: Fall
Statewide Zones 1-5
Sept. 17–Nov. 18 Sept. 17–Dec. 31
PHEASANT
Statewide
Oct. 15 (9 am)–Dec. 31
BOBWHITE QUAIL
Statewide
Oct. 15 (9 am)–Dec. 7
HUNGARIAN PARTRIDGE
Statewide
Oct. 15 (9 am)–Dec. 31
RUFFED GROUSE
Zone A Zone B
Sept. 17–Jan. 31, 2017 Oct. 15–Dec. 8
SHARP-TAILED GROUSE
Season is under review. Visit dnr.wi.gov for updates.
CROW Statewide
Sept. 17–Nov. 17; Jan. 18, 2017–Mar. 20, 2017
EARLY CANADA GOOSE
Statewide
Sept. 1–15
EARLY TEAL SEASON
Statewide
Sept. 1–7
REGULAR DUCK & GOOSE
Dates will be established in mid April.
WOODCOCK
Statewide
Sept. 24–Nov. 7
MOURNING DOVE
Statewide
Sept. 1–Nov. 29
For all other season & species regulations please see the state DNR American Outdoors Magazine expressly disclaims any warranty of the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information published and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance upon the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of such information. Any person who relies upon such information obtained from this does so at his or her own risk.
www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 45
46 | American Outdoors Magazine
WISCONSIN HOOK & LINE REGULATIONS This is not a full regulation table. For complete information and more regulations please visit: http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/fishing/regulations/index.html SPECIES
SEASONS
DAILY LIMITS
CATFISH All waters - continuous
25 in total; only one may be a flathead catfish if fishing in Winnebago system waters
CISCO (lake herring), All waters - continuous Inland waters Outlying waters
25 pounds and one fish in total 10 in total
LAKE STURGEON
All waters - continuous
1 per season
LARGEMOUTH & SMALLMOUTH BASS
All waters - continuous
5 in total
MUSKELLUNGE
All waters - continuous
1
NORTHERN PIKE
All waters - north of U.S. Highway 10
5 in total
All waters - south of U.S. Highway 10
2 in total
PANFISH (bluegill, pumpkinseed,
All waters - continuous
25 in total
ROCK BASS, WHITE AND YELLOW BASS, BULLHEADS AND ROUGH FISH
All waters - continuous
None
RUFFE & GOBIES (and other nonnative All waters - continuous detrimental fish)
Zero - but one of each may be killed and possessed for immediate delivery to a DNR Service Center or regional office.
SHOVELNOSE STURGEON
All waters - continuous
3
WALLEYE, SAUGER AND HYBRID (saugeye)
All waters - continuous
5 in total
American Outdoors Magazine expressly disclaims any warranty of the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information published and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance upon the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of such information. Any person who relies upon such information obtained from this does so at his or her own risk.
www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 47
CLASSIFIED ADS
Browse through our targeted ads to get the most up-to-date information on what’s going on in Wisconsin.
GEAR & APPAREL FREY’S HUNTING INNOVATIONS, LTD. 1.330.231.1047 freyshuntinginnovations.com PECARD LEATHER CARE COMPANY 1836 Industrial Dr., Green Bay, WI 920.468.5056 www.pecard.com SHOOTING BENCH USA PO Box 965, Strasburg, CO 80136 www.shootingbenchusa.com
LODGING/OUTFITTERS/GUIDES BIG MUSKY RESORT 10211 W. Big Musky Rd., Hayward, WI www.bigmuskyresort.com BREMER CREEK OUTFITTER SERVICE 715.946.3092 / 608.797.7067 www.bremercreek.com
CUCO’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT 405 E. Main Street, Waupun, WI 920.824.5008 DJ’s NORTHWOODS FAMILY RESTAURANT Hwy 70 East, St. Germain, WI 715.477.2277 JOE JO’s PIZZA & GELATO 10420 Water St., Hwy 42, Sister Bay, WI 520.854.5455 PILLER’s POOR BOYS 527 N. River St., Spooner, WI 715.635.5052 PIZZA RANCH 1000 Log Lodge Ct, Barabo, WI 608.448.2215 www.pizzaranch.com R/T’z PUB, GRILLE & PIZZERIA 5797 Christmas Mountain Road Wisconsin Dells, WI 608.678.4444
FELTON APPLIANCES & ELECTRONICS 125 N. Main, Jefferson, WI 920.674.3700 www.feltonelectric.com FURNITURE COMPANY West Allis - 414.258.1111 Milwaukee - 414.463.3333 Milwaukee - 414.353.5222 Milwaukee - 414.643.6666 www.myfurniturecompany.com HAPPINESS ACRES N2106 Country Road, Berlin, WI 920.361.1757 www.happinessacres.com H&R BLOCK 715.482.9711 JOHN FORBES LOVE SPELLS & ASTRO CENTER 682.202.8238 www.johnforbes-lovespell.com JUNEAU CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
SPRING VALLEY MEATS 7301 Rattle Snake Rd., Cassville, WI 608.794.2011
L & L PAINTING 5921 County Rd., Manitowoc, WI 608.449.3339 / 920.726.3266
HOLIDAY INN & CONFERENCE CENTER 750 S. Central Ave., Marshfield, WI 715.486.1500
STOLL’s COUNTRY INN 19820 Castle Creek Dr., Hwy 41 south of I-64 812.867.7730 www.stollscountryinn.com
MADISON AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE 330 W. Collins St., Portage, WI 608.745.3100
PINE MOUNTAIN OUTFITTERS 406.560.5512 www.pinemountainoutfitters.com
SERVICES / BUSINESSES
EASTWOOD CABINS 12946 Palmer Lane 715.892.0250
SCREAMIN DRAG SPORT FISHING CHARTERS 920.210.8608 www.ScreaminDragCharters.com ZIPPEL BAY RESORT 6080 39th St., NW, Williams, MN 800.222.2537 www.ZippelBay.com
RESTAURANTS / MARKETS B and B BAR & GRILL 516 2nd St., Chetek, WI 715.924.3603 CINDY’s BAR & GRILL W7958 Hwy 64, Medford, WI 715.748.4474 COFFEE BEANS ETC 1022 Lincoln St., Rhinelander 715.365.7440 www.Co CORRAL BAR & RIVERSIDE GRILL 318 West Main, Durand, WI 715.672.8874 www.CorralBarAndRiversideGrill.com
48 | American Outdoors Magazine
NORTHWOODS HARLEY-DAVIDSON 1700 US Hwy 51 North, Arbor Vitae, WI 715.358.5054 www.northwoodsharley.com
AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL 394 Lake Ave. S., Suite 505 Duluth, MN 715.259.3081
OAK RIDGE EMBROIDERY & GIFTS 851 N. 4th Street, Tomahawk, WI 715.453.5694 www.shopoakridgegifts.com
BOOK WORLD 907 S. 8th St., Minitowoc, WI www.bookworldstores.com
PET SUPPLIES PLUS 2500A Main St., Rice Lake, WI 715.736.5005 www.petsuppliesplus.com
BUCK BUCKLEY’s TOTAL BASEMENT FINISHING 888.943.8823 buckbuckleystotalbasementfinishing.com
SKYSNAP AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY 920.536.0781 www.skysnapphotos.com
BURKMAN’s PAINTING SERVICE 715.463.5438 / 715.220.9993 jtburkman@grantsburgtelcom.net
STEBNITZ BUILDERS 800.410.8027 www.StebnitzBuilders.com
CIRCLE KENNEL CLUB 1050 Circle Drive Suite A, Green Bay, WI 920.429.2300 circlekennelclub@yahoo.com
TA MOTORSPORTS INC. Francis Creek - 920.682.1284 Manitowoc - 920.682.8721 www.tamotorsports.com
CRAFT SHACK, LLC N10854 Red Pine Road, Tomahawk, WI 715.499.0051 www.craftshack-pinewoodembroidery.com
TIMBERLINE CHAINSAW SHARPENER 2300 N. Yellowstone, Idaho Falls, ID 208.405.2020 www.TimberlineSharpener.com
EAST SIDE AUTO BODY 715.258.5655 www.eastsideautobodywaupaca.com
GEAR & APPAREL www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 49
50 | American Outdoors Magazine
LODGING / OUTFITTERS / GUIDES www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 51
LODGING/OUTFITTERS/GUIDES cont.
52 | American Outdoors Magazine
RESTAURANTS / MARKETS www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 53
RESTAURANTS/MARKETS cont.
54 | American Outdoors Magazine
RESTAURANTS / MARKETS www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 55
56 | American Outdoors Magazine
SERVICES / BUSINESSES www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 57
SERVICES/BUSINESSES cont.
58 | American Outdoors Magazine
SERVICES / BUSINESSES www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 59
WISCONSIN FACTS Wisconsin is a place you know you’re always welcome. Where locals share hidden gems. Festivals happen at the drop of a hat. And generations of families make memories. Let us share the real Wisconsin with you – because when you’re having fun we’re having fun.
State flower: Blue Violet State Wildlife Animal: White-tailed Deer
State dog: American Water Spaniel
State Domestic Animal: Dairy Cow
State insect: Honey Bee
SERVICES/BUSINESSES cont.
60 | American Outdoors Magazine
State nickname: Badger State
State tree: Sugar Maple
State bird: American Robin
www.AmericanOutdoorsMagazine.com | 61
P.O. Box 6262 Peoria, Illinois 61601
62 | American Outdoors Magazine
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PEORIA, IL PERMIT NO. 365