2013
Fall Hunting
DAILY GLOBE
FALL HUNTING
2 l SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013
THE DAILY GLOBE • YOURDAILYGLOBE.COM
Centreville woman drops bear near Marenisco
n Lower Michigan couple has been hunting here since 1985
MARENISCO — Gloria Pomeroy doesn't live in the Upper Peninsula, but she's an autumn fixture here. Gloria and her husband, Charlie, of Centreville, in the lower peninsula, have been hunting black bears in Gogebic County since 1985. This year, Gloria dropped a 250-pound bear with massive paws near Marenisco on Sept. 15. She said it was the sixth bear she has harvested in those 18 years. The goal of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources' black bear management program is to maintain a healthy population that provides viewing and hunting opportunities for residents, yet does not create excessive bear problems for people living near bear habitat. To maintain that balance, an area and quota system for bear hunting divides the state into 10 Bear Management Units. It was established in 1990. A desired bear population is determined for each unit based on the number of bear the surrounding habitat will support, without causing significant problems for local residents. Each hunting season, a harvest quota is set that reflects the desired population goal for each BMU. The western Upper Peninsula is smack dab in the middle of Michigan's prime bear country and that's reflected in the high percentage of bears harvested every year in what is called the Bergland BMU. This year, the license quota was set at 1,265 for the Bergland unit. The season runs through Oct. 26. In 2012, a total of 213 black bears were harvested in the Bergland unit. Statewide, around 2,000 bears were killed. —Ralph Ansami
Submitted photos
GLORIA POMEROY, of Centreville, dropped this 250-pound bear near Marenisco on Sept. 15. She and her husband, Charlie, have been hunting in Gogebic County since 1985. THE SUPERIOR Range Shooting Club will hold huntingbased activities this fall at the shooting range on Black River Road in Ironwood Township. On Saturday, Nov. 9, and Sunday, Nov. 10, a deer rifle sight-in will begin at 10 a.m. and continue until dark. The activity helps deer hunters zero in their rifles for the season. The event will be free to the public. Other hunting-based activities have yet to be scheduled.
Miranda Anderson/Daily Globe
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FALL HUNTING
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013
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Hunting forecast: Fewer deer in UP upcoming season By RALPH ANSAMI
ransami@yourdailyglobe.com
Coming off a harsh winter, Upper Peninsula hunters can expect to see fewer fawns and adult deer during the 2013 gun-deer season. The winter of 2012-'13 started off mild with melt-offs in December and January, but increased in severity in February and continued until late April. The late, heavy snows in the Ironwood area severely stressed the herd and that will show up in the next few years, since many deer didn't survive the winter or were malnourished and aborted fetuses. Many deer were in poor condition entering the spring months and, as a result, there were notable decreases in fawn sightings in the western Upper Peninsula compared to recent years, biologists note. Still, some nice bucks have been harvested during the youth and archery hunts, proving hunters who work hard will still see some decent deer. As always, persistence will pay off for deer hunters. Nationwide, successful deer hunters get out an average of 18 days — slightly more than the average number of days Michigan deer hunters spent afield last year. Hunting preparations each year include becoming familiar with the most recent regulations.
The deer website of the MDNR and a collaborative website with the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University provide highlights of regulations changes, information about deer management, and links to additional resources, such as a list of deer check stations. The sites are located at www.michigan.gov/deer and http://deer.fw.msu.edu. Some successful hunting trips are just a result of being in the right place at the right time. Overall, deer activity tends to be highest a few weeks prior to breeding. The peak of breeding activity for Michigan deer generally occurs just prior to the opening of the firearm deer season. The 2012 season proved to be a little better than the year before for many Michigan hunters. Statewide hunting success and hunter satisfaction increased, with the majority of the increase occurring in the U.P. and the northern Lower Peninsula. Increased harvests of deer in those regions was most likely because of slow, but steady, growing deer populations in recent years. Officials recommended closing a number of Deer Management Units to antlerless licenses this year in order to allow deer numbers to rebound, though there are still six units open for antlerless opportunities. Antlerless permits are available in Deer Management
Photo submitted
BRITNEY BEBEAU, 8, of Bessemer, bagged her first deer, a 110-pound doe, while hunting in the Upper Peninsula youth hunt with her dad, Matt BeBeau. Units: 022 (Crystal Falls), 055 (Menominee), 121 (Bay De Noc), 122 (Norway), 155 (Gladstone), 255 (LaBranche). The production of mast (fruit and nuts) in the Upper Peninsula has been plentiful throughout much of the region this year. Hunters should target these areas and will want to scout for produc-
ing oak and beech trees, as well as fruitproducing shrubs and trees, such as apple and sumac. In general, hunters should expect to see fewer deer, especially in the younger age classes (fawns and yearlings) but still expect to see a decent number of 2 ½ and 3½-year-old bucks this fall. Always
keep in mind that each area is influenced by local factors and conditions that affect deer density and sightings in that area. The largest bucks (heaviest and largest antlers) typically come from agricultural areas, but nice bucks are also taken from forested areas where access is limited.
Ducks Unlimited launches new online resource for waterfowl hunters Ducks Unlimited has launched a new season of Waterfowl 360, an online resource for waterfowl hunters. The latest version of Waterfowl 360 includes new features and enhancements to help waterfowlers have their best season ever. "Hunters should be excited about the prospects for this season," said DU CEO Dale Hall. "We experienced good conditions across most of the breeding areas, and duck populations are at very high levels. As those ducks migrate south, hunters across North America can use our migration map and other online tools to maximize their chances for success in the field." Waterfowl 360 is available at www.waterfowl360.com and through DU's mobile apps. Hunters who visit the site can access waterfowling tips and tactics, gear features, wild game
recipes, retriever training lessons, shotgunning instruction and waterfowl identification. One of the most popular Waterfowl 360 features is the DU Migration Map. This interactive map allows hunters to post reports about waterfowl activity in their area. The map also features reliable and timely reports from DU biologists and field editors. Thousands of waterfowl hunters across North America use the map daily during the season to get up-to-the-minute information on where birds are and what they are doing. Last season, hunters contributed more than 30,000 reports to the map. This year, the migration map is available in a mobile-friendly version and as an app for iPhone, Android and Windows 8 devices. The Waterfowl Migration iPhone app has been
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extremely popular, spending nearly a full week in September as the number-one paid sports app in Apple's app store. Also new this year is a feature that helps hunters stay informed by signing up for DU migration alerts via email. "Our migration map traffic has increased 142 percent compared to the same period last year," said DU's Web Director,
Anthony Jones. "We are continuing to improve these digital tools for waterfowlers and it's exciting to see how well they are being accepted." Ducks Unlimited's digital media program continues to reach out to current and potential supporters. "The top priority of our website is to serve as the definitive resource for waterfowl hunting
and wetlands conservation information," Jones added. "Overall traffic to our website is up 50 percent compared to this time last year. We're pleased to see that supporters continue to access our digital media more and more each year. In addition to reaching our traditional constituency, we're also using social media such as Facebook and Twitter to engage a younger gen-
eration of supporters." Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 13 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent.
FALL HUNTING
4 l SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013
Tree stand safety high priority As hunters head to the woods for the archery and gun-deer seasons, Michigan conservation officers are stressing safety from tree stands or elevated platforms. “Tree stands are popular with many hunters who want an increased advantage, but improper use of them can result in injuries and death,” said Sgt. Tom Wanless, Hunter Education Program supervisor for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. “We always stress safety when using a tree stand or raised platform.” Important things to remember when using a tree stand for hunting are: —Buy a safe and comfortable stand and harness that's right for the individual. Safe and reliable equipment reduces chance of injury. —Carefully read all instructions and warnings provided with the stand. —Practice setting up the stand and safety equipment at ground level first. Use all recommended safety straps and pins to secure the stand. —Wear the safety harness at all times when climbing, hunting and descending. —Choose a harness with a quick-release system that will hold the hunter right-side-up and not restrict breathing in a fall. —Maintain your equipment; look for wear, stress points and loose fasteners. Fix or replace worn equipment immediately. —Choose as straight a tree as possible, and watch for dead, overhanging limbs and rotten wood. —Use extra care when hunting from a smooth-barked tree, such as aspen, maple, hickory and beech, because if it rains, they get slippery. —Use extra care when hunting from a frozen tree. Avoid using elevated stands when it's icy. —Always use a haul rope to bring gear, firearm or bow to and from the ground. —Always unload your gun before hauling. —If hauling a bow, tie the line to the top limb of the bow when climbing and the bottom when descending to avoid snagging arrows in tree branches. —Be extra alert when climbing or descending from the stand. These are when most treestand accidents occur. For more information on hunting regulations and safe use of equipment, check the 2013 hunting digests.
THE DAILY GLOBE • YOURDAILYGLOBE.COM
Larry Holcombe/Daily Globe
DAVID VAN WARMER, of Vassar, left, checks his bear in with Michigan Department of Natural Resources officer Grant Emery, center, Sept. 17 in Wakefield. Van Warmer and his hunting partner, Jason Hecht, right, were hunting in Wakefield Township, north of Wakefield, when Van Warmer shot the 200-pound male bear that morning. Emery said hunters are required to register bears within 72 hours of harvest.
Wisconsin DNR Sporting Heritage Council needs new member MADISON, Wis. — The Department of Natural Resources is seeking nominations through Oct. 15 for individuals with experience and interest in bear hunting to fill a recently-vacated position on the Sporting Heritage Council. The council advises Gov. Scott Walker, the Natural Resources Board, and the state legislature on fishing,
hunting and trapping issues. The group mainly focuses on recruitment, retention and increasing access to resources and outdoor opportunities. The council consists of 12 appointees in total, including the DNR secretary or a designee, one member appointed by the governor, two members of the Assembly, two members of the Senate, one member appointed by
the Wisconsin Conservation Congress executive committee and the five members recently appointed by the NRB. The vacant position is one of the five appointed by the NRB. Each of these five appointments represent distinct interests, including deer hunting, bear hunting, bird hunting, angling, and furbearer hunting or trapping. The vacant position will rep-
resent bear hunting interests. The selected appointee will complete the vacated term, which ends July 1, 2016, but can be re-appointed. Individuals must represent bear hunting interests and must be nominated by a sporting organization. The nomination form and more information can be found at dnr.wi.gov, and search “sporting heritage.”
Bears take advantage of government shutdown for free meals FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — Grizzly bears are getting some free meals thanks to the shutdown of the federal government. Bears in the White Mountains National Recreation Area, about 50 miles north of Fairbanks, are finding overflowing, bear-proof garbage cans at two trailheads, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported. Bureau of Land Management
employees responsible for removing the trash have been furloughed, and bears are taking the opportunity to raid garbage containers at the Wickersham Dome and Colorado Creek trailheads. There haven't been any bear encounters with humans, but BLM ranger Jonathan Priday, who is one of two rangers remaining on the job, said it may only be a matter of time until
that happens. "My fear is we're going to get habituated bears at the trailheads," he said. He also added it would be helpful if trail users packed out their garbage. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service closed its lands to public use, but both BLM and the National Park Service land is open for sport hunting, fishing and other forms of recreation. People are free to hike and use ATV trails,
and people have been taking advantage of the warmer-than-usual and snow-free weather. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has only opened land to federally qualified subsistence users. Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell has complained about the closure of national wildlife refuges in a letter last week to Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell.
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FALL HUNTING
THE DAILY GLOBE • YOURDAILYGLOBE.COM
Associated Press
Wisconsin’s second wolf hunting, trapping season opens Oct. 15 cation on the DNR website, and on the wolf call-in number, 1855-299-9653. Successful applicants can purchase wolf harvest licenses at any license sales location or online at dnr.wi.gov now or during the season. The cost is $49 for residents, and $251 for non-residents. A wolf license authorizes both hunting and trapping. The license holder must meet the appropriate education
requirements for trapping, hunter education, or must be participating in the hunting mentorship program. Anyone seeking additional information about the hunt should call the DNR at 1-888936-7463. The Call Center is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. For more information on the wolf hunt, regulations, and maps, please visit dnr.wi.gov and search “wolf.”
Hunters asked to check for invasive species MADISON, Wis. — With waterfowl hunting seasons under way and trapping on the horizon, it’s a good time for outdoor enthusiasts to consider whether their gear might be transporting harmful invasive species to and from a favorite hunting spot, Wisconsin invasive species experts say. Invasive species are nonnative plants and animals that can cause severe economic or environmental harm. Species like zebra mussels, garlic mustard and non-native phragmites spread when people move water, mud or plant fragments between
sites. Once established, invasive species can wreak serious havoc on waterfowl and game habitat, damage gear and make sites harder to access, says Deborah Seiler, aquatic invasive species outreach specialist. “By taking a few minutes to inspect and clean your hunting equipment and dogs before you leave a site, you can stop the spread of invasives that can harm the habitat waterfowl and other wildlife depend on,” Seiler says. “It all boils down to knowing where to look.” Seiler and Bob Wakeman, who coordinates DNR’s aquatic inva-
sive species efforts, says that hunters who use a skiff or wade should keep in mind that Wisconsin’s invasive species law requires the removal of all aquatic plants, animals and water from boats and equipment before leaving a water body. Duck hunters in particular should take a close look at their gear, including decoys, lines and anchors, says aquatic invasive species specialist Diane Schauer of Calumet County. Schauer says AIS can hide in places from the obvious, “Don’t use phragmites for your blind,” to the surprising.
MADISON, Wis. — Three years after the idea was first proposed by a citizen resolution during voting at a Wisconsin Conservation Congress spring meeting, rifles will be allowed statewide for firearm deer hunting as of Nov. 1, unless a local municipality has enacted a more restrictive ordinance. “Hunters are strongly urged to check with the local officials to see if rifles will be allowed for the November nine-day gundeer hunt,” Scott Gunderson, assistant deputy secretary of the Department of Natural Resources, said of the law change which was not in effect for the youth gun-deer hunt Oct. 5-6. Gunderson said the law change has attracted much public debate. “After the first statewide vote on this proposal at the Conservation Congress in 2011, when 61 counties supported it, the DNR held hearings in each county,” he said. There was a citizen resolution offered in 2010 with the statewide advisory question the following year. “We again found widespread public support for this rule change in 2013.” This means that unless there is a local ordinance restricts use of rifles in a town, hunters will be able to use rifles of calibers legal for hunting deer statewide in 2013. People need to contact their local units of government to determine if there is such an ordinance. The DNR did not enter into this decision lightly, Gunderson said. “The department has not identified any safety-related advantage to shotguns and there is no deer herd management purpose for the old regulation,” said conservation warden Todd Schaller, chief of the DNR’s Bureau of Law Enforcement’s Recreational Enforcement and Education Section. “The key to safe hunting is that the safety rules must be followed with all types of firearms.” The new regulations will be a simplification. Under previous rules, the DNR was frequently asked if people could use highpowered rifles for other species outside of the firearm deer season, if they could use muzzleloaders, or if they could use high-powered rifle and other
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tile through a barrel that has lands and grooves, called rifling, which spin the bullet, providing accuracy and efficiency. Shotguns are designed primarily to fire a large number of small projectiles, called pellets, in a single shot and they are normally used for shooting birds in flight or small game, however shotgun shells can be loaded with a single slug and used for deer hunting. Given the choice many, if not most, firearm deer hunters prefer to use a rifle because of the improved accuracy and great variety of calibers and guns,” Schaller said.
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cartridges in handguns during the firearm deer season. “The answer to all of those was yes, even in shotgun-only areas, which sheds some light on the fact that the old rule was really not needed for safety related purposes,” Schaller said. During 2002-'07, rifles were authorized within former shotgun-only portions of Dane, Green, Lafayette, Rock and Walworth counties contained in the Chronic Wasting Disease eradication zones with no increase in shooting incidents. “Rifles are firearms that are designed to fire a single projec-
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IN THIS July 16, 2004, file photo, a gray wolf is seen at the Wildlife Science Center in Forest Lake, Minn.
Wisconsin’s second wolf hunting and trapping season begins Oct. 15 in all six harvest zones across the state and runs through Feb. 28. Around 2,500 hunters and trappers will pursue a harvest of 251 wolves. If harvest levels reach the quota for a zone, the DNR will enact an early emergency closure in that zone. The DNR will announce such closures by news releases, notifi-
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FALL HUNTING
6 l SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013
THE DAILY GLOBE • YOURDAILYGLOBE.COM
Wisconsin lawmakers cool to DNR pet deer plan By TODD RICHMOND The Associated Press
MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin wildlife officials' proposal to let people keep wild deer if they pay a fine is getting a cool reception from lawmakers, who say it amounts to selling off a public resource. Republican Gov. Scott Walker told the Department of Natural Resources to find less controversial ways of handling captive deer following a public outcry when agents seized a deer from a Kenosha animal shelter and euthanized it this past summer. The agency has suggested legislators change state law to let people keep deer if they pay a fine and meet certain other requirements, such as keeping the deer enclosed and getting a veterinarian to check the animal out. The idea has sparked outrage among environmentalists and outdoorsmen. The DNR's own board has adopted a resolu-
tion opposing the idea, and Republican leaders said lawmakers don't appear interested in creating a bill. "The action plan as proposed would be very difficult to sell as legislation," said Sen. Neal Kedzie, R-Elkhorn, chairman of the Senate Natural Resources Committee. "This whole issue of wild game being a resource in the wild and not for private keeping goes back a hundred years. It would be very difficult to reverse that standard." It's currently illegal to capture wild animals in Wisconsin. Licensed rehabilitators can hold deer temporarily but must return them to the wild. Rehabilitators in counties with chronic wasting disease rehabilitators can't hold deer at all because of concerns about spreading the disease. The regulations have led to some high-profile conflicts over the past decade. The DNR ordered six deer at an animal
shelter near Lake Geneva killed in 2004 because at least one of them came from a CWD zone. Then-Gov. Jim Doyle, a Democrat, signed a bill sparing the animals. A pardon from Walker spared another deer in 2011. The DNR had planned to euthanize an orphaned fawn from a CWD zone because the Lake Geneva man who took her in couldn't legally keep her and she couldn't be released. Walker acted after the Chicago Tribune ran a column arguing for the animal's life. The latest dust-up started when an Illinois family brought a fawn named Giggles to the Saint Francis Society animal shelter in Kenosha. DNR agents showed up at the shelter with a search warrant, seized Giggles and killed her. Agency officials said they had no choice because Giggles came from a CWD zone. The fawn's fans criticized the DNR in blog postings and set up
a "Justice for Giggles" Facebook page. Walker ordered his cabinet heads, including DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp, to find options to ensure another such incident never happens. The DNR proposed staff return deer to the wild as long as the animals don't pose a threat to public or wildlife health. Euthanasia would be acceptable only when an animal was sick or posed a health risk. The agency's board adopted those changes in September. But the agency also suggested legislators change state law to allow people to keep wild deer as pets if they pay a $175 fine and an annual $150 registration fee, keep the deer on at least a halfacre of enclosed land and buy a $450 DNR fencing certificate. Animals would have to pass health checks and their owners would have to plead guilty to a violation in court and pay any additional files related to that.
The idea left environmentalists and sportsmen's groups aghast. They argued the plan could spread disease and violates long-held conservation tenants that wildlife is held in the public trust. "It's public relations over science," said Shahla Werner, executive director of the Wisconsin Sierra Club chapter. DNR Deputy Secretary Matt Moroney said the agency got the idea from Michigan, which agreed last summer that a family could keep an illegally held fawn if the animal passed health checks and stayed in an enclosed area. The state also required the family to pay a fee and acknowledged that possessing wildlife is illegal. Moroney said society simply won't tolerate euthanasia anymore. Still, the DNR board adopted a resolution in September opposing the pet deer plan, calling the
proposal an effort to privatize Wisconsin's wild deer. Board President Preston Cole told The Associated Press the idea violates "wildlife ethics 101." He plans to convene a discussion on whether the DNR is moving away from science-based policy in favor of more socially acceptable rules. Legislators also aren't keen on the idea. Kedzie said he didn't know of any senators working on a deer-as-pets bill. A spokeswoman for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Burlington, said no one in that chamber was taking up the issue either. Given that, DNR Lands Division Administrator Kurt Thiede said he hopes those officials will support the agency the next time a deer is seized. "We still have a situation here where the public doesn't want us to euthanize a domesticated deer," Moroney said. "If this isn't the right solution, what is?".
Briefs
Hunter who shot off-duty deputy charged HUDSON, Wis. (AP) — A Minnesota man has been charged with shooting and injuring an off-duty sheriff's commander while hunting turkeys in western Wisconsin this spring. Twenty-seven-year-old Anthony Peter Cardarelli of White Bear Lake, Minn., is charged in St. Croix County with second-degree recklessly endangering safety. Cardarelli told deputies that he was sitting in a tree when he heard movement in the brush and fired his shotgun at what he thought was a turkey. Washington County Sheriff's Cmdr. Jerry Cusick was hit by 58 pellets at short range and knocked off his feet. According to the charges, Cusick had a landowner’s permission to scout turkey hunting areas on April 30 but Cardarelli didn't. The Star Tribune reported Cardarelli makes his initial court appearance Oct. 24. Cusick has returned to work.
Squirrel hunter accidentally shot to death TOWN OF HALSEY, Wis. (AP) — Authorities say a squirrel hunter was accidentally shot to death near Wausau when another hunter mistook him for a squirrel Sept. 22. The Marathon County sheriff's department identifies the victim as 29-year-old Xou Chang of Wausau. Sheriff Scott Parks said that Chang was shot by his friend, a 32-year-old man from Wausau. The state Department of Natural Resources says Chang was shot in the head after another hunter saw movement and fired. The sheriff says Chang had two dead squirrels next to him on a stump, and his friend thought he saw movement and fired. Chang was in a hunting party of three and was shot from about 50 yards away. The shooting happened on private land. Autopsy results are pending.
Board approves park hunting restrictions MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' board has approved new restrictions on hunting and trapping in state parks. The Legislature passed a law last year that lifted the general prohibition on both activities in the parks. The new statutes allow the DNR to prohibit hunting and trapping within designated areas, however. The agency proposed emergency rules that would prohibit people from shooting guns, bows and crossbows from or across park trails and require trappers to use dog-proof snares. The Natural Resources Board approved the rules unanimously during its meeting Sept. 25 in Pembine. The regulations are set to go into effect on Nov. 15.
Associated Press
IN THIS Nov. 17, 2012, file photo Donnie Kasat, left, and Mike Wagner of Eau Claire, Wis., walk along a trial in the Clark County forest near Fairchild, Wis., during the Wisconsin deer-gun season opener.
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Diamond Taste of the Wild Canidae Fromm Complete line of birdfeed & all small pet food in stock (hamsters, gerbils, rabbits & ferrets, to name a few!)
Bird feeders & everything you need for your feathery friends.
SETTLER’S CO-OP FEED DEPT. Bruce Crossing ~ (906) 827-3515
HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 9am-5pm; Sat. 10am-3pm; Closed Sunday
STATE FARM INSURANCE COMPANIES
John J. Oberto,
HOME OFFICES: Bloomington, IL
Agent
Have A Safe & Successful Season! 221 Silver Street, Hurley, WI 54534 Office: (715)561-4333 • Res.: (715)561-2215 Fax: (715)561-4318
“Like a good neighbor State Farm is there.”