Valley Sentinel 11-18-2021

Inside this edition

2021 DEER SEASON FORECAST PAGE 11 RVRC State Swimming Summary Page 7

Community Calendar Page 6

Spring Green, Wisconsin

Thanksgiving Treats Page 8

Thursday, November 18, 2021 | Vol. 2, No. 46 FREE, Single-Copy

St. Luke’s offers deer camp, blessing to deer hunters as they prepare for the season Sauk County Public Health and Board of Health encourages vaccination to more safely celebrate the holidays Pat Rego, RN, Sauk County Board of Health Chair As we near the holiday season, we here at Sauk County Public Health are getting asked how to best minimize COVID-19 risk to protect the health of friends and loved ones. Here are some tips to help you make the best decisions for you and your family: Get vaccinated. Getting vaccinated prevents severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Getting vaccinated also helps reduce the spread of the virus, protecting those not yet eligible for vaccination, such as young children, and protecting those who have weakened immune systems that may not be fully protected even if they are vaccinated.

The Sauk County Board of Health strongly encourages that all eligible Sauk County residents get vaccinated. Sauk County’s new COVID-19 case counts in September and October 2020 were almost the same as what we are seeing in September and October 2021. While the number of new cases are the same, the good news is that hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19 are not. Hospitalizations in 2021 are 45% lower, and deaths are 65% lower. The majority of new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to be in unvaccinated individuals.

“The bottom line is that vaccines are safe and they work! It isn’t too late to get vaccinated for the holidays, find a Sauk County COVID-19 Vaccination Site on our website, https://www.co.sauk.wi.us/publichealth/ covid-19-vaccination-sites,” encourages Treemanisha Stewart, Sauk County Public Health Officer/Director.

It’s also flu season, and Sauk County has been experiencing elevated levels of influenza. It is safe to get your flu vaccine at the same time as your COVID-19 vaccine, ask your healthcare provider for availability.

Wear well-fitting masks over your nose and mouth if you are in public indoor settings. To maximize protection from the Delta variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 and to prevent possibly spreading it to others, even those who are fully vaccinated should wear a mask in public indoor settings in communities with substantial to high transmission. Wearing a mask is also advised if anyone in your household or anyone you are visiting over the holidays has a weakened immune system or is at increased risk for severe

See page 4 PRESENTED BY PREM MEATS

Photo by Taylor Scott, Managing Editor On Nov. 17, Saint Luke Catholic Church in Plain invited deer hunters to a family friendly deer camp on the front porch of the St. Luke rectory. Boasting beer, brats, burgers, soda, cider and cocoa, attendees were invited to gather around the fire and share their favorite hunting stories. Parish priest Father Garrett Kau shared the stories of St. Bernard as well as St. Hubertus, the patron saint of hunting, before ending with a prayer and a blessing for the hunters in attendance.

Pictured above: Deer hunters and families gather around the St. Luke rectory porch Nov. 17 as Fr. Garrett, in camo stole at center, shares a blessing.

Hunters prepare for Wisconsin’s 170th nine-day gun deer season Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Anticipation is building across Wisconsin as hunters of all experience levels are preparing to head out afield to take part in the state’s 170th nineday gun deer season Nov. 20-28.

“The nine-day gun deer season is always an exciting time of the year,” said Eric Lobner, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Management Bureau Director.

“Hunting is part of the cultural fabric of Wisconsin, and we look forward to another memorable gun deer season that also provides an economic boost to many parts of the state.”

Wisconsin is a nationally-recognized state for hunting white tailed deer with an abundant herd and a proven reputation for producing some of the largest bucks in the world. In Wisconsin, you can pursue whatever experience suits you thanks to the over seven million acres of land open for public hunting across a diverse range of habitats.

“Not only is the season a great time to get together with family and friends to enjoy time outdoors, it is also a time when many people put a low-fat protein source in their freezer that feeds their

We celebrate big bucks, of course, but we want to see everything that celebrates the rich culture of deer hunting ... be it a youngster’s first deer, your view out in the field or from your stand.

Kate’s Bait and Sporting Goods

2021 Deer Hunting Forecast Summary

As hunters begin the final countdown to the nine-day gun deer season opener, the DNR offers a few deer hunting forecast details to help prepare: — It’s been a relatively dry year and crop harvest is on or ahead of schedule.

Access in low lying areas should not be hampered by flooding. However, unfrozen conditions in much of the state may limit access in the some of the wetter areas.

— Deer numbers are trending upward in much of the state. Deer numbers are high throughout the Farmland Zones, with a lot of antlerless harvest opportunities in many Farmland Deer Management Units. Additional antlerless deer harvest supports a healthier herd.

— The state experienced a very mild winter, which usually leads to better fawn numbers and antler growth.

— There are no buck-only units this year. Antlerless harvest quotas in the Northern Forest were increased by 40% overall. However, some northern counties with limited antlerless permits

have sold out.

Hunters will have a different experience based on where in the state they hunt, whether they are hunting public or private land, forest or farmland, hunting pressure and many other factors.

GameReg

All harvested deer must be registered electronically by 5 p.m. the day after the deer is recovered. The system will prompt hunters to answer a series of questions. A unique harvest authorization number is required.

Hunters have four options to register their deer: Online at Gamereg.wi.gov (fastest and easiest option), By phone at 1-844426-3734, Log into your Go Wild account and select “Current Tags/ Authorizations” under My Game Reg. Then select “Report Harvest” after the appropriate tag, or electronically at a participating in-person registration station.

Registering a harvest is a critical component to assisting the DNR with deer management in Wisconsin.

See page 11 for the full deer season forecast

Valley Sentinel wants to see your deer hunting pictures!

We’d love to see photos of the big buck or doe you bagged!

Thank you to our prize sponsors!

family throughout the year,” Lobner said. “We wish every hunter a safe and successful season.”

Submit photos or videos with brief description, the hunter’s name (and the names of anyone else in the picture including the age of a youth hunter) along with the location.

Both archery and gun entries are welcome.

Hunter must be from Sauk, Richland or Iowa counties or hunted in those counties. Biggest Buck 1st Place: Vortex Crossfire 10x42 Binoculars, Free Deer Categories include: Biggest Buck, Processing at Prem Meats Biggest Doe, Best Youth Harvest, Best ($120 value), $20 Kate’s View Out in the Field Bait and Sporting Goods gift card Pictures must be received by Nov. 30.

2nd Place: $50 Prem Meats gift card, Vortex blaze vest Submissions: and hat 3rd Place: $25 Prem Meats editor@valleysentinelnews.com gift card, Vortex Nalgene water bottle

PRIZES Biggest Doe 1st Place: Vortex Crossfire 10x42 Binoculars, Free Deer Processing at Prem Meats ($120 value), $20 Kate’s Bait and Sporting Goods gift card 2nd Place: $50 Prem Meats gift card, Vortex blaze vest and hat 3rd Place: $25 Prem Meats gift card, Vortex Nalgene water bottle

Best Youth Harvest 1st Place: Free Deer Processing at Prem Meats ($120 value), $20 Kate’s Bait and Sporting Goods gift card 2nd Place: $50 Prem Meats gift card, Vortex blaze vest and hat 3rd Place: $25 Prem Meats gift card, Vortex Nalgene water bottle

Best View Out in the Field 1st Place: $50 Prem Meats gift card, Vortex blaze vest and hat, Kate’s Bait and Sporting Goods stocking cap 2nd Place: $25 Prem Meats gift card, Vortex Nalgene water bottle 3rd Place: $10 Prem Meats gift card, Vortex Nalgene water bottle

Page 2

Commentary/Opinion

Thursday, November 18, 2021

Community Column — Joined at the Hip: Ilene and Rudy Feiner Katie Green, The Plain and Simple Correspondent Possibly the greatest reward for volunteering at the late, lamented Honey Creek Co-op Market in Plain, was cultivating a passing acquaintance by face, if not by name, with many residents of this area.

No surprise, most of them were Bavarian German Catholics, and most of them were related, as I came to know. Many helpful customers with gardens and orchards brought in extra produce to be given away or sold or utilized in the deli.

The first time I encountered Ilene Feiner, for example, was when she brought bags of apples from the home farm for us to sell or use in making salads, desserts and hotdishes, although I didn’t catch her name. There were many new names for me to learn as a newcomer.

Ilene reminded me of the apples when we met again at Strassenfest this October, where she was an exhibitor at the fair. As a hopeless addict of all the needle and fabric arts, my eye was caught by a large, appetizing array of quilts and piles of other handmade items which advertised an extreme dedication to sewing on the part of the older woman behind the counter. I started to introduce myself as I grabbed up several colorful hotpads to replace the scuzzy ones at my house and to give to grandchildren who are setting up their own apartments, when she said frankly, “I know who you are.” The truth is, at first I didn’t recognize Ilene, and her response reminded me that I stand out as an outsider in a village whose inhabitants have known each other since birth, as did their parents, and often grandparents, and sometimes on back another generation or two. There’s little chance of remaining anonymous here.

When we compared ages and confirmed we are contemporaries, I realized that Ilene was an ideal specimen of hardy Plain DNA, perfect for me to examine under my journalistic microscope.

Ilene was born into one of the many Ruhland families, descendants of those Germans who emigrated to this part of SW Wisconsin along with a smattering of Austrians, Swiss, and Irish, some before the Civil War, but in a great rush starting in the 1870s. Her Ruhland-Hutter grandparents were farmers in a valley off Loreto Ridge, but her father was hired by Ed Kraemer to work as a gravel crusher in quarry operations and Ilene grew up going to school in 10-15 different schools each year, depending on where her father was assigned. The family of two children and parents lived year-round in what a photo reveals to be a medium-sized, aluminum-clad trailer — that had no indoor plumbing, she said, so an outhouse accompanied each site. In winter the trailers would be parked back in downtown Plain, allowing Ilene and her brother to attend the Plain parochial school. They were an unusual family, in that the wives of most men who worked for Kraemer brothers’ operations did not follow their men to job sites. They often had more numerous children than the Ruhlands, and most mothers stayed in one spot to raise the children by themselves or with the help of relatives as the men came and went.

Did Ilene have any fantasies as a girl of how she wanted her adult life to proceed, what she might be interested in applying her energies and imagination to? No, not really. She took up the accordion and played in the local Burkholder band. “I wasn’t very good,” she says. “I didn’t give it my full attention.” “Don’t say that,” Rudy protests. “You were good.” As the interview proceeds I notice that Ilene tends to be modest and Rudy to be a booster.

She attracted the discerning attention of Rudy Feiner, of the Wilson Creek Feiner clan, when they were juniors at Plain High School, and when he reached 21 he persuaded her to marry him. First, however, he joined the Army Reserves just out of high school and his first long trip away from home was a six month stint at bases in Missouri and Texas. He was on the expert rifle team at the former

and was assigned to food service school at the former, which we joked about a bit.

“My sons are better cooks than I am,” he said ruefully.

After their marriage, he and his bride moved into a trailer on the home farm.

Ilene was suddenly a farm wife and “very green”, she admits with a laugh. The first (and last) time she was asked to drive a tractor hauling a wagon around a cornfield to collect ears of corn that were being hand-harvested, she ran over Rudy’s father. He lived, and presumably forgave her. However, in every other way — except driving tractor — she added considerable value to their joint enterprise and worked side by side with Rudy all the thirty years they were on the farm.

When the first of their seven children (five sons, two daughters) was born, ever-practical Ilene traded in the accordion for a sewing machine and began making clothing for the kids and branched out into everything else that can be done with cloth. She has a keen eye for color and design. Her own mother was a quilt maker and inevitably Ilene moved in that direction. After outfitting the family, she began bringing the extra handiwork to craft fairs, sometimes having a booth at as many as half a dozen or more per year, but now she limits that to two – the River Valley High School Christmas Bazaar and the fair in Plain.

Rudy wrote a short but detailed memoir in 2010 that gives a vivid picture of the amount of sheer back-breaking labor involved in a successful farming operation in the days before sophisticated machinery, heated cabs, and the like.

His father still farmed with draft horses when Rudy was young and he was fully involved in chores by the time he was 7 or 8. Farming, as anyone knows who is acquainted with insurance actuarial rates, is a very dangerous profession.

There are myriad ways to lose a body part or your life. When he was 8, Rudy got his hand caught in the belt of a motor that pumped water from their well and his index finger was cut severely and had to be essentially reattached. He was lucky to get off so easily. In spite of the hazards and the constant work, he loved the farm and the tight family life of many members working in tandem. Cousins, nieces, in-laws and neighbors also pitched in frequently, as the local labor force moved from farm to farm. Farmers pooled their money to purchase machinery like threshers and corn pickers that weren’t used every day. In the occasional free time between chores, the neighborhood kids would play baseball, basketball and football, depending on the season.

Electricity was reconnected to the old schoolhouse on the Feiner farm property that was abandoned when the district unified the schools, and it became their basketball court in winter.

A few years into their married life, Rudy joined a group of farmers from Sauk County who studied modern farming methods in Madison at MATC in the wintertime over a period of five years and what they learned substantially increased the yields on their farms.

He wrote about his “great parents” that “they taught us our faith and manners, our smarts and how to work.” Adding to what Rudy wrote, Ilene added, “Now kids don’t have a clue, not even my grandkids. It doesn’t sink in how hard it really was.” As a young married couple, Ilene and Rudy started out with very little, but acquired “things” and improved housing slowly, by dint of unceasing labor. I asked what she worried about looking ahead to the future, and she answered in the same vein as before. “Today young people are so used to having everything. Right away.

But with the housing market so high and everything so expensive, what will they do if everything goes crash again?”

In 1989, Rudy and Ilene turned over their farm in the Wilson Creek district (located between Spring Green and Plain) to their oldest son, Gary, who raises cattle and grain “bigtime” with his sons, and moved into Plain. At first they occupied a house, but then their

Photo by Katie Green son Terry constructed a series of condominiums near the American Legion Hall overlooking the north end of the golf course and they moved into one. It is now packed with Ilene’s sewing articles and workroom, her collections of angels and china cups, and the memorabilia of 62 years together. Photos of their large family, of which they are very, very proud, are displayed prominently. They offered to send each child to college in his or her turn, Ilene mentioned, but not one chose to go that route to the successful lives they have built. Four of their boys are in the building trades, which they began learning from a young age on the farm. I have reason to be grateful for the expertise of their son Todd, who did some of the needful renovation on our vintage house when we moved here.

One daughter and her husband owned the Green Acres restaurant just outside Sauk City for many years and the other is involved in religious pursuits in Tucson.

I agreed wholeheartedly with Ilene that there are many routes to finding the best way for an individual to have a good life, reach personal fulfillment and contribute to one’s community.

Even before they left the farm for Plain, Ilene gathered together a sizable quilting group of women at St. Luke’s Catholic Church. “After mass we would go to the basement and quilt. We made hundreds (“Thousands,” corrected Rudy) of them.

Many went to Haiti or to hardship cases in the U.S. after storms, fires, and other disasters, or because families were in need for other reasons. “I took my youngest son along sometimes, and he would play around on the floor. The women would take turns picking him up if he got bored or fussy.” She pointed at a box on the kitchen countertop—crammed with thank you letters from recipients of the quilts and the hundreds of lap robes and walker bags she made to distribute at the Pine Valley nursing home in Richland Center “and every hospital and nursing home in a 40-mile radius,” chimed in Rudy.“It gives you a great feeling,” she said of this effort. “The Lord has been very good to us. All the kids are normal and healthy and that’s a big plus,” she added, as if that explained her overflowing generosity.

Some of the many things Ilene did to help bring in some income after the children all entered school were day jobs at Edna’s Deli in Spring Green and Plain Jane’s restaurant in this village, both businesses long gone. Next she worked for years at the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store in Prairie du Sac. She clearly was never anyone to let grass grow under her feet. As I looked around at her collections, I asked Ilene who was going to inherit it all? We commiserated together about the fact that the things we cherish hold little or no interest for our descendants. Tastes change. Often the kids want new things, not the nicked and battered but beloved keepsakes that carry the long history and memories of a family. Material possessions that once commanded a high price are now sold for a pittance. At St. Vinny’s she saw beautiful treasures

languish unwanted that she remembered being prized a generation ago.

Meanwhile, Rudy served on many boards and committees, beginning when he was 30 and was elected to the Spring Green Town Board as its east end supervisor. He was sitting on the board during the 1970s and ‘80s when eleven subdivisions were added to the township. He was also on the committees that enticed Cardinal Glass to the area to the new Industrial Park and brought in Charter Communications, and he sat on various school committees. Many township roads were regraded and repaved. He found the men and women he served with on these efforts “some of the smartest people I ever worked with.” As a deer hunter, naturally he was an active member of the Spring Green Rod & Gun Club, and St. Luke’s Church was another institution that received the benefit of his lengthy civic engagement. It took some ill health to slow him down. The accomplishments of the two of them are awe-inspiring. I fully expected to see the old adage “idle hands are the devil’s workshop” embroidered and hanging on their wall above the family photo shrine.

I don’t want to give the impression that their lives have been all work and no play. Before they married, the two went to movies and did “a lot of dancing on Saturday nights.” Rudy admitted to fondness for the foxtrot and the shuffle (which takes some serious footwork and exertion). Costume parties on Hallowe’en or New Year’s Eve, bowling, some rollerskating. On their honeymoon they went to see the Corn Palace in South Dakota (it figures), Mt. Rushmore, and in retirement have done extensive traveling alone and with other Plain friends and relations to popular attractions and parks. They got out and about and thus are not provincial in their views. They have well-developed senses of humor of a decidedly wry sort and are quick to laugh at themselves. Rudy treated me to an amusing tale of how, when he was courting Ilene, he would coax a little money from his father so the young couple could go to the show and afterward have a hamburger and a malt, all for a dollar and a quarter.

He received no wages or an allowance for the farm work he did, but his parents softened their frugality and rewarded his efforts from time to time with a little cash if they deemed the cause was right.

This pair seems almost too good to be true, I thought as I concluded our conversations. It pays to be suspicious in a world populated with rascals and ne’erdo-wells pretending to be exemplars of virtue. So I phoned comrades of theirs who grew up farming near Rudy and have even more years under the belt. Are Rudy and Ilene what they appear to be, I asked? They confirmed that the Feiners are unusually diligent, conscientious, compassionate to the core. “They were good neighbors. There should be more of them around,” they said. Others I asked (none of them related by blood, which is hard to find in this town), agree. Yep, cloning is in order. We need more of their kind around.

Letter to the Editor: Spring Green Emergency Medical Service diligent and valuable Dear Editor, Hats off to all the volunteers from the Spring Green Emergency Medical Service for their diligent and valuable

services to the community.

These volunteers are always there when we need them, and they have unflinchingly risen to every challenge posed by the Covid-19 epidemic. Offer-

ing testing first and adding vaccination services as vaccines became available, our community is so fortunate to have these volunteers in our midst.

With Thanksgiving just around the

corner, the Spring Green EMTs are at the top of my gratitude list this year.

—Don Greenwood Spring Green

Thursday, November 18, 2021 Page 3 Commentary/Opinion Letter to the Editor: Run for office! We need good, community-oriented people to serve Dear Editor: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” Remember this famous quote? A war hero, the President who spoke those words was calling on all Americans to get into public service. It still rings true.

What you can do for your country today is to run for local office. You’d be great at it. Yes, you! You’re reading this because you picked up a local paper.

You’re reading the Opinions section.

That means you care about what’s happening in your community and you want to be informed by a wide range of views (even ones you disagree with).

See? You’ve got a leg up already.

There’s never been a better time to run. Let me tell you why.

It’s fun! Nothing puts a spring in your step like being on the campaign trail.

You’ll be inspired every day by the people you meet and the stories they tell.

It’s easy to get started. You don’t need anyone’s permission. Fill out a couple

of short forms and you’re on the ballot.

In fact, many areas are scrambling to find candidates to serve in local government. Raise your hand in interest.

You’ll be welcomed.

It’s impactful, especially now. Thanks to Congress and the President, an unprecedented amount of federal money is being invested in local governments to rebuild infrastructure. By serving in a local office, you can ensure that money is spent wisely on things like internet, local-controlled renewable energy,

and clean water.

Still not convinced to run? Try this thought experiment: Imagine who will run if you don’t. If that’s a scary thought, then head to the county clerk’s office to get your paperwork started.

Believe me, when you run for office your faith in humanity and democracy will be rewarded.

—Tripp Stroud Candidate for Wisconsin’s 17th Senate District

Sen. Howard Marklein Column: Election Audit Results Delivered, Mostly Sen. Howard Marklein, (R-Spring Green)

The non-partisan Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) delivered the results of an audit of the November 2020 Election to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee on October 22, 2021. As a member of this committee, I initiated and helped to craft the scope of this audit. The full report from the LAB is available for your review: legis.wisconsin.gov/lab The LAB provided an overview at a public hearing on Wednesday, November 9, 2021 and you can view this hearing on WisconsinEye: wiseye. org/2021/11/09/joint-legislative-audit-committee-41/ According to the LAB, they contacted the Wisconsin Election Commission (WEC) and surveyed all 1,835 municipal clerks and 72 county clerks. They contacted 179 clerks for more information and physically reviewed 14,710 certificates that accompanied absentee ballots returned to clerks in 29 municipalities throughout the state, reviewed the results of 175 statutorily required tests of electronic voting equipment that clerks in 25 municipalities completed before the November 2020 General Election, and reviewed 45 sworn, written complaints related to the election that were filed by May 2021.

Unfortunately, the City of Madison did not provide an opportunity to physically handle their ballots. As a result, the

Sen. Howard Marklein Senate Committee on Elections, Election Process Reform and Ethics has issued subpoenas to gather this important evidence which will be turned over to the LAB to complete the audit.

Despite the incomplete data, the LAB recommended 30 actions that should be taken by WEC to reform and improve the way election laws are executed in Wisconsin. You will find these recommendations in Appendix 7 of the report.

Several of these recommendations tell WEC to take action to follow existing state laws. There were several issues, identified by the audit, in which WEC

is not following state laws related to providing training, maintaining voter records, counting ballots, collecting ballots and more.

I am concerned that WEC is not following state laws. Our hard-working, local municipal clerks rely on WEC to provide guidance, training and support so that they may do the very important, difficult and time consuming job of executing elections in Wisconsin. If WEC is not following state laws, they are not fulfilling their essential duty to our local clerks.

The LAB also provided 18 items for Legislative consideration. You will find these recommendations in Appendix 8 of the report. These are 18 ideas that the legislature could write bills to address.

Five of these recommendations have already been addressed with legislation that was vetoed by Governor Tony Evers.

The legislature has passed nine of 10 bills related to election reform. The Governor has vetoed eight of these bills, including legislation that would stop private money from influencing elections, outlaw ballot harvesting, enforce Voter ID for indefinitely confined claims, prevent illegal “curing” of ballots by municipal clerks and more. This is the Senate’s Dashboard of these bills: legis.wisconsin.gov/senate/republicans/election-bills Bottom-line, the results of this audit tell

SUBSCRIPTION

DRIVE

Around a year out from our start of publication, we never expected the dozens and dozens that now subscribe to Valley Sentinel. We are free to pick up in businesses around the area, but in the midst of a pandemic we wanted to be able to offer a service that allowed readers to be safe and not have to go out to get a paper, among the many other reasons people subscribe. We expected maybe a dozen subscriptions, we are free paper after all, and we’ve been surprised and heartened by so, so many more.

In the newspaper industry, this last year was the first in decades that subscription revenue exceeded ad revenue. With postal and gas prices going up, we offer subscriptions at a slight net loss and maintain an ad revenue model because we believe in accessibility

So we’re launching a Subscription Drive to 300 campaign to get Valley Sentinel to that goal of 300 subscribers! and not passing on the cost to our most important asset — our readers.

However, the more subscribers we have (especially those we can deliver to in the local area) the more opportunities unlock for us to be able to bring you bigger and better news each week and stay plugged into the local community without worrying about whether or not we can print.

Want to help distribute Valley Sentinel?

More subscriptions mean more routes, and our distribution intern is back at college so we’re looking for help distributing the paper!

Want to enjoy scenic fall drives or a walk around town and assist in connecting our businesses, subscribers and community? Whether for fun or for volunteer experience, just one village, route, or all of them, we’d be happy to have you! Interested? Email: editor@valleysentinelnews.com

300

We’ll update this each week to share our progress. If you’ve been on the fence, if you’ve been thinking about gifting a subscription to family or friends or encouraging them to subscribe, now is the time — and we can’t thank the community and everyone that supports us each week enough.

To subscribe or gift a subscription, send a check for $30 to Valley Sentinel, PO Box 144, Spring Green, WI 53588, visit valleysentinelnews.com/subscribe or scan the QR code.

Contact us

Deadlines: The display and classified advertising deadline is Monday at noon for that week. If you would like our design team to design the ad then please allow extra time for the creative process and proofing.

Ad team: ads@valleysentinelnews.com

PO Box 144 Spring Green, Wisconsin 53588 USA (608) 588-6694 editor@valleysentinelnews.com valleysentinelnews.com Editorial Editor-in-Chief Nicole Aimone Managing Editor Taylor Scott Legal Editor Gary Ernest Grass, esq.

us that there are issues we must address at the state level to make sure that our local elections officials have the support and tools they need to execute elections efficiently and legally. We have more work to do and the legislature will continue to strive for positive reforms.

As an individual, you can play a role in efficient, legal elections too! Please consider volunteering to work at a polling place in your community for future elections. This will give you the unique opportunity to participate in the electoral process and ensure election integrity. According to WEC, there are two ways to be nominated: either through a nomination from the Democratic or Republican Party or by applying directly to your town, village or city clerk.

Our hard-working municipal clerks are always looking for help. Please consider volunteering for these important jobs.

Nominations by political parties are due by November 30, 2021 for the 2022 election cycle. Please visit www.wisdems.org/county-parties or www.wisgop.org/county-parties to volunteer for this important nomination right away.

Again, we have the results of the LAB Election Audit, mostly. I look forward to reviewing amended findings once the LAB receives all of the data they need from the City of Madison to complete their audit. I also will continue our work to reform and modernize election laws.

Contributors Arts & Culture/Editorial Columns Graphic Design/Pagination Bill Gordon Grace Vosen Anna Stocks-Hess Arts & Culture/Editorial Sports Editorial Intern Alison Graves Mike McDermott Adeline Holte Arts Community/Opinion Sports/Photography Intern Jen Salt Katie Green Kalen Scott Our team will be growing and changing as we settle into publishing regularly, please stay in touch. Thank you to all of our contributors for believing in our community.

Editorial Policy

On certain topics in areas of great community interest, the editors of the Valley Sentinel may take positions they believe best represent and serve the interests of the community. Any opinions or positions taken by the editorial board are separate and distinct in labeling and substance from the community journalism that appears in the rest of the publication and does not affect the integrity and impartiality of our reporting. .

Est. 2020 igne conflatum “Forged in Fire”

Letter to the Editor Policy

Letters submitted for consideration are subject to fact-checking and editing for space and clarity. Submissions must have a compelling local community interest. Letters to the editor must fit within a 500-word limit, and include name, city and phone number. Phone numbers are for office use only and will not be published. Letters of a political nature, without chance of rebuttal, will not be published the week before an election.

Valley Sentinel is a free, weekly single-copy news publication, available on newsstands in the area.

Covering Arena, Lone Rock, Plain, Spring Green and the surrounding areas in Sauk, Iowa and Richland counties.

Column Policy

Community Discussion Policy

Subscribe Want the paper delivered to your home or business?

Subscribe online at valleysentinelnews.com/subscribe or subscribe annually with your name, phone number, address and $30 sent to: Valley Sentinel, PO Box 144, Spring Green, WI 53588

Valley Sentinel is published in Spring Green, Wisconsin every Thursday by Lower Wisconsin River Valley Sentinel, LLC. ISSN 2694-541X (print) — ISSN 2694-5401 (online)

Editors may feature opinion columns written by public figures, members of the public or other publication staff. Columns reflect the opinions of the individual contributors and do not represent positions of the publication. Guest columns of an anticipated length more than 500 words should seek prior editor authorization. .

From time to time the editorial board may select letters to the editor of a particular compelling community interest where a public figure or accountable public action is the recipient of criticism and allow, in the same issue, the subject of the criticism chance for rebuttal, with expounded independent input. The format shall be point, counterpoint and expert analysis. This community discussion shall serve as a moderated dialogue that presents multiple views of important community topics.

Page 4

Thursday, November 18, 2021

River Valley School District announces school board seats up for election

Adeline Holte, Editorial Intern

The River Valley School District will be holding an election on Tuesday, April. 5, 2022. For those seeking to run for a seat on the River Valley School Board a Campaign Registration Statement and a Declaration of Candidacy will need to be filed by 5:00 p.m. on Jan. 4 of 2022 with the office of the School District clerk, 660 Daley St, Spring Green.

The seats up for election in April 2022 are: — School Board Area No. 3 for the Town of Clyde, whose incumbent at present is Jeffrey J. Maier.

—School Board Area No. 6 of the Village of Spring Green, currently held

by Sara Young.

— The Village of Plain School Board Area No. 9, whose current incumbent is John D. Bettinger.

— The Village of Lone Rock, School Board Area No. 4. The incumbent Board Member is Sara Carstensen.

The office term for School Board Members is approximately three years. The starting date of the term in 2022 will be Monday, April. 25. The exception to the three-year term is for Area No. 4 in Lone Rock, which is a one-year unexpired term.

A valid voter ID will have to be presented in order to vote at this upcoming election.

More information about the school board can be found at the school district website: https:// www.rvschools.org/district/ schoolboardrivervalley.cfm Forms and more information about elections can be found at the Wisconsin Elections Commission website at: https://elections.wi.gov/

Community Sauk Co. urges vaccination before holidays continued from page 1

disease. Do NOT put a mask on children younger than 2 years old.

Before traveling, visit the CDC’s Travel page to help you decide what is best for you and your family. CDC still recommends delaying travel until you are fully vaccinated. If you are traveling with children who cannot get vaccinated at this time, follow recommendations for people who are not fully vaccinated. Everyone, even people who are fully vaccinated, is required to wear a mask on public transportation, including planes, buses, and trains.

If you are sick or have symptoms, do not attend or host a gathering. Get tested. To find a Free COVID-19 Testing Site in Sauk County, visit www.co.sauk. wi.us/publichealth/free-covid-testing-information.

If you have recently been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, follow current quarantine guidance and get tested. If you are fully vaccinated, you do not need to quarantine as long as you do not develop symptoms.

You should get tested 5-7 days after exposure, and wear a mask when indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until your test result is negative. If you are not vaccinated, quarantine at home for 14 days following exposure.

Immunocompromised people should take extra precautions. You should continue to take all precautions recommended for unvaccinated people, including wearing a mask, staying 6 feet away from others, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces until advised otherwise by your healthcare provider.

Good hand hygiene. It’s cold and flu season too so don’t forget the basics!

Wash your hands often, cover coughs and sneezes, and clean and disinfect high touch surfaces daily.

“The Sauk County Board of Health supports these recommendations and strongly encourages that all Sauk County residents who are eligible get vaccinated. By working together, we can enjoy safer holidays, and protect our own health as well as the health of our community, family, and friends,” encourages Pat Rego, RN and Sauk County Board of Health Chair.

In Other News/Briefs

SG Library Director steps down After two years as director of the Spring Green Community Library, Lisa Thomas is stepping down. Her last day with the library will be Nov. 24.

Thomas requested that there be no formal farewell party, but the library will have cookies that day and encourages people to stop in for a treat.

There will be no interruption in continuity of services, with the library assuring in a statement: “the library’s knowledgeable, caring staff are here to help!”

The Library Board met at Nov. 15 to begin the recruitment process.

“Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Spring Green Community Library and River Valley community. This truly is a special place,” said Thomas.

SG Chamber looking for Holiday Light Parade floats Who doesn’t love a Holiday themed parade... at night... with LOTS of lights?

Join us Friday, December 3rd at 6pm on the streets of downtown Spring Green!

Better yet... have a float IN the parade!! Get your business noticed and show your holiday spirit! No cost for floats!

For more information and to register your float: https://forms.gle/5HPHCbKuuUDCxFtJ9 More info found on our website at www.springgreen.com —Spring Green Area Chamber of Commerce

Employment opportunities

Now Hiring!

CleanPower is looking for a bank cleaner in Spring Green.

Work is Monday thru Saturday for 1.25 hours after 5:30pm.

This job has a flexible start time! Wage is $15 per hour.

Apply direct at www.cleanpower1.com by clicking careers at the top or call 608-213-9863 for more info.

EEO/AA Employer

Commercial Project Manager/Estimator

Duties: • Manage multiple projects in various stages of planning and construction • Prepare and manage detailed schematic budgeting and estimating • Coordinate subcontractor bids Requirements: • 5+ years of Commercial Project Manager/Estimator experience • Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management or Civil Engineering • Understanding of our self-performed trades • Familiar with estimating software, have strong client service orientation, and demonstrate outstanding communication and organization skills

Commercial Construction Superintendent

Duties: • Management of construction activities • Ensuring compliance with design, schedule, and budget requirements • Overseeing multiple subcontractors Requirements • 5+ years of commercial field management experience • Experience in one of our self-performed trades • Must be able to demonstrate prior success in working effectively as a team with project owners, architects, and subcontractors. Must possess the leadership abilities to achieve top-flight results

For more info visit www.kraemerbrothers.com Administrative Support Assistant The Administrative Support Assistant will work with our Productivity & Planning Managers as well as our Project Managers to assist in completing day to day administrative duties.

Duties: • Maintain archives of completed projects • Typing of proposals, reports, change orders, and other correspondence • Communicate with subcontractors/owners/architects via email, telephone, and fax • Assist with miscellaneous duties such as copying, filing, organizing as requested Knowledge/Skills: • Ability to type accurately and proficiently • Knowledge of software programs especially Excel and Outlook • Detailed oriented • Ability to work with a variety of different people and personalities • Able to utilize standard office equipment: printers, fax, computers, etc.

Work Enironment: • Most work will be performed sitting and working on a desktop Salary will be based on experience computer EEO/AA employer • Will need to occasionally move around the office building • Part time position between 20-25 hours per week. Schedule is Please send your resume to: Kraemer Brothers, LLC flexible 925 Park Ave | PO Box 219 Kraemer Brothers is a leading Commercial General Contractor Plain, WI 53577 and has several projects throughout Southern Wisconsin.

Email: jobs@kraemerbrothers.com For more info visit www.kraemerbrothers.com Phone: 608-546-2411

Salary will be based on experience EEO/AA employer

Please send your resume to:

Kraemer Brothers, LLC 925 Park Ave | PO Box 219 Plain, WI 53577 Email: jobs@kraemerbrothers.com Phone: 608-546-2411

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY Looking for a challenge?

We are looking for interns/volunteers who want to be in the unique position to learn the nuts and bolts of a news media publication that started from the ground up.

You will have the chance to make an impact at the ground level of a startup and see the effect of your work and ideas carried out with a lot of flexibility, in an environment and creative culture you can help influence and create.

Available subject areas: EDITORIAL/JOURNALISM SOCIAL MEDIA ADVERTISING/MARKETING

GRAPHIC DESIGN/PAGE DESIGN/LAYOUT DISTRIBUTION/CIRCULATION/CRM MNGMT PODCASTING/AUDIO PRODUCTION

We are a new, all volunteer local news source that holds a strong belief that by working to keep our communities informed and engaged on a variety of topics including arts & culture, events, community news and serving as a watchdog for our local governmental bodies, we can help create a strong identity for our community and ignite positive growth and change throughout the area.

Interested? Send us your area(s) of interest and a resume to: editor@valleysentinelnews.com Internship will be unpaid, interns will be required to sign a FSLA-compliant internship agreement.

If credit is available from intern’s educational institution for participation in an internship, we are glad to work with you to meet any requirements for receiving credit.

Community

Thursday, November 18, 2021 Page 5

COVID-19 Dashboard Wisconsin Summary

833,881 Positive Cases +17,454 from 11/9

Cases as of 11/16/2021

3,619,193 Negative Test Results +64,441 from 11/9

8,779 Deaths +91 from 11/9 Updated: 11/16/2021

Critically High Very High High Medium Low

covid case activity level This graph shows information on case burden and trajectory. Burden (case rate) is the total number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 Wisconsin residents in the last two weeks. Trajectory is the percent case change from the previous to the current week. These are different from Community Transmission Level, which is the total confirmed cases per 100,000 persons reported in the past 7 days.

Case activity is a combination of burden and trajectory over the prior two weeks.

Iowa County

6,530,794

Administered

2,522,678

Pfizer doses administered

277,473

Moderna doses administered

Johnson & Johnson doses administered

Vaccine Data These two core measures are measures of herd immunity in Richland, Sauk and Iowa County. We do not yet know what level of vaccination leads to herd immunity for COVID-19, or how current or future variants might affect herd immunity. We know based on other diseases that herd immunity is likely at least 60%, and if more transmissible variants become more common, that threshold may become higher, so the current target range is 60-90%. -Adapted from Madison Public Health and Dane County

+50 from 11/9 +79 from 11/9 +0 from 11/9

2,812 Positive Cases 14,146 Negative Tests 16 Deaths

Last Updated: 11/5/2021

3,730,643

county level weekly statistics Richland County 2,240 Positive Cases 9,811 Negative Tests 26 Deaths

Vaccine Summary Statistics

Richland

+38 from 11/9 +114 from 11/9 +0 from 11/9

Sauk County

+214 from 11/9 +314 from 11/9 +2 from 11/9

8,691 Positive Cases 42,952 Negative Tests 67 Deaths Updated: 11/16/2021

Target Range

Sauk

55.5%

59.5%

Percent with at least one vaccine dose

Percent with at least one vaccine dose

53.3%

56.6%

Percent fully vaccinated

Percent fully vaccinated

Iowa

Target Range

Target Range

64.4% Percent with at least one vaccine dose

62.3% Percent fully vaccinated

Cases per zip code

Percent of Wisconsin residents ages 12-15 who have received at least one dose by county

Cases as of 11/16/2021

Last Updated: 11/5/2021 Lower %

Richland County Ages 12-15

Iowa County

Ages 12-15

Higher %

43.1%

Percent of Wisconsin residents who have received at least one dose

56.3%

Sauk County

Ages 12-15

Last Updated: 11/5/2021

46.9% Dane County Ages 12-15

Graphic by Anna Stocks-Hess

Ages

81.8%

12-15 16-17 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+

Data From: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/index.htm

48.6% 53.2% 53.4% 58.1% 65.3% 66.2% 74.6% 86.8%

Page 6

Community

Thursday, November 11, 2021

COmmunitycalendar Events for November 18 - December 3 Thursday, November 18 Stitch and Bitch 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM . Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St. Spring Green . www.springgreengeneralstore.com . The Spring Green General Store’s Stitch and Bitch handwork group meets Thursday afternoons weekly. All are welcome.

Friday, November 19 Live Music: Caravan 7:30 PM . Slowpoke Lounge, 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green . www.slowpokelounge.com . Caravan is a world traveling acoustic instrumental jazz group from Madison, WI. They are primarily influenced by the legendary Gypsy Jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt. The ensemble also pulls influence from American Swing, Jazz, Latin, Parisian Waltz, European Folk and other vintage Jazz sources!

Tickets $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 required for all Slowpoke events.

Karaoke Night 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM . Keg and Kettle, 104 S Oak St, Lone Rock . There’s nothing like singing your heart out on stage in front of a wild audience. Karaoke is a marvelous concept because it gives anyone the chance to be a rock star. You get to hold a microphone in your hand, stand under the colorful lights, and be the singer you’ve always dreamed you could be—even for just one song.

Saturday, November 20 Pop-Up Spring Green Farmers Market 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM . S230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green . The Spring Green Farmers Market is continuing in the Spring Green Community Public Library Lot through the winter every Saturday morning. Pre-orders are recommended. Visit our Facebook or Instagram page or email SGFarmersMarket@gmail.com for a list of participating vendors and their contact information.

Tuesday, November 23 Fall Storytime (Indoors) 10:15 AM . Kraemer Library Community Room, 910 Main St., Plain . Indoor Storytime is back! Join us for our Fall Storytime sesson from November 16th - December 21st 2021. Join us for songs, stories, and crafts in the Community Room. Aimed at children ages 0-4 but, all are welcome:) Stories and songs are 20 minutes followed by a themed activity/craft:) Masks are encouraged due to CDC guidelines

Saturday, November 27 Pop-Up Spring Green Farmers Market 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM . S230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green . The Spring Green Farmers Market is continuing in the Spring Green Community Public Library Lot through the winter every Saturday morning. Pre-orders are recommended. Visit our Facebook or Instagram page or email SGFarmersMarket@gmail.com for a list of participating vendors and their contact information.

Small Business Saturday — Candlelight Shopping 4:00 PM . Prairie Flowers & Gifts, 126 N Lexington St, Spring Green . Enjoy an old fashioned shopping experience with our Candlelight Shopping Event! Join us for refreshments and in-store specials.

Live DJ at Keg & Kettle 8:00 PM - 12:00 PM . Keg and Kettle, 104 S Oak St, Lone Rock .

Live DJ, come out to hear your favorite music.

Tuesday, November 30 Fall Storytime (Indoors) 10:15 AM . Kraemer Library Community Room, 910 Main St., Plain . Indoor Storytime is back! Join us for our Fall Storytime sesson from November 16th - December 21st 2021. Join us for songs, stories, and crafts in the Community Room. Aimed at children ages 0-4 but, all are welcome:) Stories and songs are 20 minutes followed by a themed activity/craft:) Masks are encouraged due to CDC guidelines

Wednesday, December 1 Family Storytime 10:00 AM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green . www.springgreenlibrary.org . Join Ms. Grace for stories, songs, and fun!

Starting in December, we will offer indoor storytime on Wednesdays! There is no sign up required for now, but attendance is limited to 19 people, so get there early to reserve your spot! We do require masks for everyone age 2 and up and will be socially distanced around the room for safety.

Thursday, December 2

Reminder

Stitch and Bitch 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM . Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St. Spring Green . www.springgreengeneralstore.com . The Spring Green General Store’s Stitch and Bitch handwork group meets Thursday afternoons weekly. All are welcome.

Here are some important guidelines to help ensure everyone’s safety:

Friday, December 3 Live Music: Gin Mill Hollow 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM . Slowpoke Lounge, 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green . www.slowpokelounge.com . Gin Mill Hollow is a 3-piece Madison, Wisconsin-based semi-acoustic rock group. The band consists of Dan Plourde on electric guitar and uke-bass, Joshua "Juice" Giudice on the mandolin and Mark Norman playing acoustic guitar and upright bass. Vocal duties are shared by all three musicians, and their string-band approach is augmented by the use of Porchboard kick-drum emulators in lieu of a drummer for a little extra foot-stomping rhythm. Their sound incorporates elements of bluegrass, folk and Americana, and they draw from influences that include The Wood Brothers, Tom Petty, The Band, Neil Young, and Bob Dylan.

Tickets $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 required for all Slowpoke events.

DONATION

DRIVE

Recently we received word from our press that costs for materials have risen over 19% in the past few months and that our printing cost will go up accordingly.

If we charged $1 for each copy of Valley Sentinel, just half of the copies that are picked up each week would entirely cover our printing costs — however, we are committed to remaining a free

The risk of participating in a certain activity depends on many factors. Because of this, there’s no way to assign risk levels to certain actions. That’s why it’s important to consider your own situation and the risks for you, your family, and your community.

publication with an accessible, hybrid model that allows anyone that wants to read local news to have access to it. We do not believe financial ability should be a barrier to reading local news.

We may be a free paper, but unfortunately it’s not free to print papers.

Valley Sentinel will stay a free and truly independent and accessible paper. Please frequent our local businesses and let them

Get vaccinated.

Stay at least 6 feet away from other people when possible.

Wash hands frequently.

Wear a mask.

Stay home when sick.

Get tested if you have symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.

Avoid crowded and poorly ventilated indoor spaces when possible.

Taken from: www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/community.htm

know you read Valley Sentinel each week.

What does independent news mean to us? It means NOT influenced by corporations or government, NO big corporate backers, NO corporate umbrella organizations, NO big money investors. Just a handful of people with a dream to build community.

Valley Sentinel is all-volunteer, independently owned and operated by its editors and is a majority woman-owned business.

Community fueled and community focused. We only succeed if the community succeeds.

For more about Valley Sentinel and our model, visit us at valleysentinelnews.com/about

If you are able and enjoyed this week’s edition, please consider donating $1 today.

Scan to support local journalism!

Sports/regional

Thursday, November 18, 2021 Page 7

Harper competes at state swim meet, sets personal and team records

Mike Nachreiner, RVRC Girl’s Swimming Coach Friday night the RVRC Swim Team ended its season by participating in the Division 2 State Swim Meet at Waukesha South. RVRC had one swimmer qualify for the State Meet in two events. Senior Beverly Harper qualified in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle. 32 schools were represented with swimmers in the State Meet. RVRC’s one swimmer was able to score team points allowing RVRC to finish 27th overall. Coach Emily Nachreiner said, “Making it to State isn’t easy, Bev put in hard work at practice and outside of practice. She set herself goals and realized to achieve them, she would need to put in extra work during the season and in the off season. Bev always had a great attitude at practice being a strong team leader. She will be missed next year, not only for her skills, but for her leadership.”

Harper’s first event was the 50-yard freestyle. Coach Mike Nachreiner said, “The 50-yard freestyle is an event that you need strength and power, but most of all the swimmers need to be focused.

The race is over in less than 25 seconds, one small mishap like a hesitation on

the start or a slip on the flip turn can be the different between first place and last place.” Beverly Harper had a great race and finished 13th overall, but clocked a personal best time of 24.76.

Harper’s second event was the 100-yard freestyle. Nachreiner explained, “The 100 freestyle is obviously a longer race than the 50, but it is still a sprint. You have a little more time to make your move. Any mishaps can be overcome with effort.” It was an exciting race. Right off the start all eight swimmers were even, coming into the first turn almost all at the same time.

Coming out of the second turn, Harper and a couple of others made their move pulling ahead, slightly over the rest of the pool. Coming out of the third and final turn, you could see Harper pull ahead by a little margin over the others. Coach Emily Nachreiner said, “Once we saw her slightly ahead coming out of that third turn, we knew should was going to win her heat. It is hard to catch Bev when she has a lead on you.” Harper finished first in her heat finished 10th overall with a time of 54.13 which was her personal best time and a new team record, beating Holly DuCharme’s time of 54.28 from 2014.

Photo by Mike Nachreiner Beverly Harper celebrates with her teammates after swimming her personal best time and new team record in the 100-yard freestyle at the state meet. Pictured from left to right: Lily Saperstein, Megan Nachreiner, Beverly Harper, Charlotte Ferstl, Bobbi DuCharme and Alivia Glasbrenner.

Spring Green’s own Hatfield running in NCAA XC National Championships Rich Moser, EIU Associate Athletic Director Eastern Illinois men’s cross country runner Dustin Hatfield (Spring Green, Wis.) was selected to participate in this year’s NCAA Cross Country National Championships following his performance at the NCAA Midwest Regional in Iowa City, Iowa, Nov. 12.

Hatfield was among the top four individual finishers in the Midwest Regional that was not part of a team that advanced to the National Championships.

Hatfield placed 18th in 10K race as he earned NCAA All-Region honors for the second time in his career.

He becomes the third EIU men’s individual to qualify for the NCAA Division I Champion during the Panthers NCAA Division I era. Jason Bialka was two-time National Qualifier in 2000 and 2001 placing 99th at the 2001 championship. Todd Moroney who was

selected to the EIU Athletic Hall of Fame this year qualified for the national meet in 1997 finishing 159th.

During EIU’s successful NAIA and NCAA Division II cross country era the Panthers had six individuals qualify for the NCAA Division I National Championships with Joe Sheeran earning All American honors in 1977 with an 18th place finish. Sheeran was joined at the NCAA National Championships in 1977 by teammate Casey Reinking. John Christy and Mike Larson qualified for EIU in 1975 while Marty McIntire and Dike Stirrett qualified for EIU in 1969.

This year’s NCAA National Championship will take place on Saturday, Nov. 20 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida with Florida State University the event host. The men’s 10K race will be at 10:10 am (Central).

Photo via Eastern Illinois University

New Student Advisor and Coach Joins UW-Platteville Richland

John Christensen, Branch Campus Communications Manager UW-Platteville has hired Lisa Behling as Academic Advisor and Coach for UW-Platteville Richland. Behling earned an Associate degree from UW-Richland and previously worked as a Student Affairs Coordinator at the campus from 1999-2013. The Academic Advisor and Coach position was filled quickly by the University after it became open at the beginning of September. Behling started on November 8, and will work full time on the Richland campus.

“We are so glad to be able to bring Lisa’s experience and dedication to students back to Richland,” said Dr. Karen McLeer, Executive Director of Retention and Academic Support for UW-Platteville. “She’ll be a critical part of keeping students connected to the University services that help them achieve their goals, both aca-

Behling demically, and in all that contributes to the life of being a student.”

Dr. Michael Compton, who oversees operations in Richland as Assistant Provost for the branch campuses of UW-Platteville, said he was pleased the University was able to get the position filled so quickly, and looked forward to Behling being a key part of the Richland staff. “Lisa will be a great addition to our team, helping us all focus on the needs of students during their time on our campus.”

After moving with her family to North Carolina for several years, Behling, her husband, and two sons returned to Richland Center in early 2021, and Behling is delighted to be returning to the campus, particularly as part of the large team with deep resources and experience that UW-Platteville can offer her. “We operated pretty much as a self-contained team when I was here before…but I see already that being a part of UW-Platte-

ville gives a tremendous range of tools to help students.”

In the years she was away from both Richland Center, and higher education, Behling observes that she missed out on some big changes in the needs and expectations of students from a campus like UW-Platteville Richland. “There’s not much paper around,” she offers as a small example. “Students are used to all resources being online, and accessible quickly, as they have been all through their high school classes,” and while that transition was underway when she left, “it’s complete now, and that’s a difference I’ve noticed right away.”

In addition to her Associate degree from UW-Richland, Behling holds an Associate degree in Business Administration from Western Technical College, and a Bachelor of Science in Education from UW-Whitewater.

Area retired educators invited to speak with Riverway Board Chair Cupp

Paul Murphey, RAREA President “RAREA: The Tie That Binds” will be the theme for the final 2021 meeting of the Richland Area Retired Educators’ Association (RAREA) scheduled for Thursday, December 09, 2021, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at The Phoenix Center, 100 South Orange Street, Richland Center.

Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. The cost will be $15 for RAREA members, their guests, and prospective members; this meeting is not open to the public.

RSVP deadline for all attendees will be 12 noon on Monday, December 06, 2021, and should be directed to RAREA President Paul Murphey, 269 South Park Street, Richland Center, WI, 535812303; 608.647.6439 or pmurphey@ mwt.net. Attendees are also reminded

to bring donations (items or cash/checks made payable to RAREA) for our annual school supplies collection to benefit the Boscobel & Riverdale school districts.

Members needing to renew their 2022 WREA/RAREA memberships should plan to do so at this meeting. Attendees will be following all safety & health protocols as defined by our Richland County Public Health Officer (Rose Kohout).

President Murphey stated, “Our RAREA chapter covers all or parts of four Driftless counties containing six rivers; many of which eventually reach our natural wonder – the Lower Wisconsin River – the “tie that binds” us as a chapter. We are so pleased to have Mark E. Cupp, Executive Director, Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board, as our guest speaker.

Mark’s deep commitment to the Lower Wisconsin River has long been recognized by local, state, & national agencies.

Furthermore, our musical entertainment for this holiday meeting will be Brian Moore on piano. What a great way for RAREA to end its 2021 meeting year; we made it to the end of the year despite more than a few trying circumstances.

And, for that, we need to celebrate!”

RAREA is one of sixty active chapters throughout Wisconsin and Arizona affiliated with the greater Wisconsin Retired Educators’ Association (WREA). WREA and RAREA serve all retired and currently employed public education professionals (administration, teaching, and support staff) at the primary, secondary, and post-secondary levels and retired

or currently employed public employees (non educators) that belong to the Wisconsin Retirement System. Currently employed professionals may also join both groups as a regular member. In addition, retired or currently employed public employees (non educators) that belong to the Wisconsin Retirement System may also join both organizations!

As a local chapter, RAREA serves the following 12 school districts/institutions within the greater southwest Wisconsin area: Boscobel, Ithaca, Kickapoo, North Crawford, Prairie du Chien, Richland Center, River Valley (shared with Sauk County REA), Riverdale, Seneca, UW-Platteville Richland, Wauzeka-Steuben, and Weston.

“The good stuff.”

Page 8

Arts/Community

Thursday, November 18, 2021

Recipe: Wild rose hip tea make the perfect Thanksgiving treat Adeline Holte, Editorial Intern With Autumn slowly ticking away it’s bright colors and luke-warm weather as Thanksgiving rounds the corner, you may feel a sadness in watching the leaves fall off the trees and the gray clouds and cold weather start to close in. But with the start of the end of Autumn nearing us, you can be encouraged, because while the fall colors fade, the rosehips are at their ripest.

Sure, maybe rosehips don’t fully make up for the fact that fall is nearing its end, but because Thanksgiving is just around the corner, harvesting rosehips (or buying them!) can create a perfect Thanksgiving tea for your meal. Not to mention, rosehips hold largely beneficial amounts of vitamin C and are full of antioxidants. As well as tasting great, they are also very healthy.

If you have wild rosehips in your yard, this time of year is the best time to harvest.

With the temperatures having dipped below freezing, rosehips are now at their peak time for sweetness, which means your tea will be the perfect blend of sweet.

When making rosehip tea with dried rosehips, which is what you would most likely buy in a store, all you need to do is crush up your rosehips and steep them in

your tea. Wild rosehips, however, are a different story, and a longer process. But, in my opinion, the time it takes to prepare tea with wild rosehips is a much better outcome and well worth the labor.

Gathering your rose hips: The first step of your wild rosehip tea is to gather your rosehips. When picking, make sure the hips are red or orange in color, with no spots or wormholes. It’s also good to keep an eye out for bird or bug damage in your bush, so that you are not getting any damaged rosehips. And make sure to wear gloves! Rose bushes are full of thorns and it’s never fun to get pricked.

Cleaning your rose hips: Once you have picked enough, think about 1-3 cups, depending on how much tea you want to steep, you’ll need to wash the rosehips.

I achieved this by first removing all the leaves or stray stems from my bunch, and then placed them in a strainer and rinsed with cold water for about 60 to 120 seconds. After, I placed them on a paper towel to dry and dabbed them off after a few minutes.

Preparing your tea: To make your tea you will need to measure out your rosehips. For me, I used ¼ cup rosehips to

each cup of water I used. I used three cups of water, but it all depends on how much tea you want for your meal. Next, crush your rose hips. I used a paper towel and the palm of my hand to crush them lightly for them to steep faster, but you can crush them in whatever way works best for you.

With rosehips, there is no need to remove any seeds, so don’t worry about it.

After you’ve crushed your rosehips, you will need to steep them to create your tea.

Place your rosehips in a jar or bowl and pour your boiling water over the crushed rosehips before covering it. You will have to leave your tea to steep for at least 30 minutes, but if you want your tea even stronger, you can steep them for up to a few hours.

After the steeping is finished, drain your tea into a different bowl or jar, using a strainer to remove the pulp from the rosehips.

Enjoy!

Your tea is done! After it is steeped for your desired time, you can serve it in any way you want. You can add some honey or simple syrup as a sweetener or leave as is if you like a more earthy taste. Rosehip tea pairs nicely with desserts, such as an apple

Photo by Adeline Holte pie or apple fritter, or even to sip during your Thanksgiving meal. I have discovered that I am happy to drink my wild rosehip tea all on its own.

Whether store bought or wild picked, rosehip tea is a great edition to a Thanksgiving meal, and one that I will definitely making annually. From hand picking your rosehips to draining the pulp, creating wild rosehip is a fun and rewarding treat addition to your Thanksgiving meal.

Recipe: The Julia Child Challenge at Thanksgiving, Pumpkin Custard/Pie Katie Green, Contributor Julia Child started out as a spy and then became a chef. I started out as a chef then became a spy. True or false? It’s true that Child was a spy with the OSS, precursor to the CIA, during WW II and didn’t know a spoon from a back scratcher until her husband introduced her to French vittles. She went on to study at the Cordon Blue school in Paris and a long career in teaching how to perform magical tricks that transformed cooking into cuisine. I began cooking at a tender age and eventually became a spy, in a manner of speaking, by taking up journalism. She was 6’2” tall, a commanding

presence. I was 5’8” at my peak and a shrinking violet. I bought several of her how-to books but didn’t often have the patience to go through quite so many steps it takes to achieve mastery over chefery.

However, Julia taught me to to dress up my plain cooking on occasion and offer the following simple recipe as one we like a lot. As we say at our house, “Babies cry for it.” If, like me, you don’t like to make pie crusts and/or are watching calories, the recipe can be cooked as a custard instead of a pie. I also reduce the sugar content of recipes for health’s sake.

It seems sweet enough to us.

Pumpkin Custard/Pie with a Difference

Blend together: -2 c pumpkin or winter squash puree (most of commercial canned pumpkin is actually squash, I read) -1/2 c brown sugar -1/2 t each: salt, nutmeg, cloves, ginger and cinnamon -2 large eggs -1 T melted butter -1 c milk and 1/2 c light cream (substitute 1/4 c dark rum for some of the milk, if you like) Pour the contents into either a pie shell or a glass baking dish and bake at 325

degrees for 30- 40 minutes or until you jiggle it and it is set.

Sometimes I make a topping to bake on top of the custard, consisting of: 1 T butter and 2T maple syrup, boiled a minute, then add 1 c coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts. Sprinkle this praline on the custard or pie before baking. Or else liberally sprinkle unsweetened coconut on top before baking.

Whipped cream – the REAL THING, not CoolWhip – is the perfect accompaniment, with a little chopped candied ginger on top. Vive le difference!

AMERICAN PL AYERS THEATRE PRESENTS

Boo k & Ly r i cs by J a m e s D e V it a | M u s ic & Lyr i cs by Jo sh Sc hmi d t D ire ct e d by M a lk ia S t a m p l ey November 26 – December 19 | Touchstone Theatre

Celebrate the Season with a Charming Holiday Musical A ll T ic ke t s $ 2 5 f or R i ve r Va l l ey Re side nt s U s i n g p r om o c od e

SG21

Tickets & Information Americanplayers.org | Box Office: 608-588-2361 Discount Generously Sponsored By

Arts & Culture/Outdoors

Thursday, November 18, 2021 Page 9 Sauk County Gardener — Thankful in the garden and out Using the flora around you to create winter planters

Jeannie Manis, Sauk County Master Gardener

“The thankful heart opens our eyes to a multitude of blessings that continually surround us.”

—James E. Faust As I look toward Thanksgiving, it causes me to look back over the past year to reflect on the many things I am thankful for in my life. Out of curiosity, I looked up the article I wrote last year and noticed my list has not changed much at all.

I’m so thankful that my garden was once again very productive. Once again, our freezer and pantries are full of produce that we harvested and preserved to enjoy and share this winter. I’m also thankful that I finally learned and came to appreciate the proper spacing of tomato plants. For once, my tomatoes were relatively disease-free. I also successfully harvested my first planting of garlic, enjoying the scapes early in the spring and a nice collection of healthy bulbs to eat, plus enough to replant for next year. I’m also thankful for the amazing growth I experience in my first year of my cutting garden. I started it so I could have enough flowers for my daughter’s wedding this past fall. We had a such an abundance of flowers at the wedding, it made this master gardener very proud. This initial success encourages me to continue having a cutting garden next year for beautiful blooms. I’m also thankful for gardening failures as well. I not only was reminded that squash can crosspollinate and create some very unusual squash, but also to remain humble.

As master gardeners, we sometimes need to be reminded that we still need to continue to learn or improve our gardening techniques.

I’m thankful for my fellow master gardeners. They continue to provide a wealth of knowledge and enjoy sharing their love of gardening with me and others within our community.

They strive to make a difference in the communities they live in, and it shows.

Although COVID restricted our usual activities, we were still able to find ways to share our gardening knowledge.

We worked with area schools to develop their school gardens, removed invasive plant species from a local prairie, helped restore and maintain several gardens for historical accuracy, provided gardening demonstrations at the Sauk County Fair, taught workshops on how to plant tomatoes and other vegetables, and produced food for local food pantries. One of our master gardeners maintained a number of garden plots at the Reedsburg Community Garden just for the sole purpose of donating the produce.

He also worked with his employer to donate their excess produce, resulting in a combined total of 1,649 pounds of fresh vegetables donate to feed families in the Reedsburg area. The demonstration garden that the Sauk County Master Gardeners Association, Inc. maintained in Baraboo Community Garden also donated lots of tomatoes to the local food pantries. This is just a small sample of the ways master gardeners contribute to their communities. I hope that in the future, you will consider becoming a master gardener volunteer and share your love of gardening with others in the community.

I’m so thankful for my family who enjoy gardening and going on my gardening adventures with me.

Although my granddaughter is now a senior and has a very busy schedule, she still found time to come out and help me whenever she could in the gardens. I’m thankful for my new gardening buddy, my 18-month-old grandson. He loved being outside, exploring and eating tomatoes, beans, strawberries, blackcaps, and just about every other vegetable straight out of the garden. He gave me a whole new appreciation of gardening, seeing it from his perspective. I’m thankful for my daughter and new son-in-law; they both enjoy gardening and are always willing to try some new plant in their gardens that I give them or help eat the extra garden produce. My son and daughter-in-law are not much into gardening, but they’re willing to take home the extra vegetables and never complain when I send their son home in dirty, stained clothes from spending time in garden with his Nana.

Finally, I am so thankful for my husband and partner-in-gardening, Scott. If it wasn’t for him, our gardens would not be nearly as nice (or as large) as they are. He’s always willing to help me with my latest whim; this past summer he helped build six 4x8 garden beds for my cutting garden. Then a couple weekends ago, he helped dig up all the dahlia bulbs in those same beds for winter storage. He’s always willing to dig holes, and then dig more holes when I changed my mind. He thins out my seedlings (those little plants worked so hard to grow!) and prunes my tomatoes as I either don’t get to them or I don’t prune enough. Scott is the perfect gardening companion in so many ways and I’m thankful he enjoys spending time in the gardens with me.

I am thankful for so many things. I hope this gives you a chance to reflect on all the good in your life and what you’re thankful for as well.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Photo by Alison Graves, Arts Contributor One of the many planters to be found around downtown Spring Green.

Alison Graves, Arts Contributor Have you noticed the beautiful new arrangements in the planters throughout downtown Spring Green? Each planter looks different, reflecting the style and choices of one of the many volunteers responsible for planting and decorating each pot. See if you can identify any of the dried wildflowers, weeds, grasses and evergreens, not only in the planters, but along local roadsides and in neighbor’s lawns The planter project started in 2018 with only four planters. With generous donations and support from area residents, the Spring Green Chamber of Commerce, the Village and individual and business sponsors including Cardinal Glass, there are now 24 planters. They are sustained by people throughout the community, representing a wonderful example of the beauty of people coming together in common cause. The planter arrangements are changed at least twice a year. In the spring, the Chamber of Commerce pays for the plants and the Village Department of Public Works waters them daily throughout the summer months. Stanley Bindl and Eric Miller have taken on the big job of maintaining the planters, researching fertilizing and drainage and ensuring

proper care overall.

River Valley students can also take pride in the role they’ve had in beautifying downtown Spring Green. In 2019, several students in Carla Carmody’s Tech Ed class created the metal spheres that add interest to the planters over winter. In 2021, Ms. Carmody’s class designed the word art added to the planters during the growing season. Those involved in putting together the new autumn and winter arrangements include Jean Alt,Paula Barta, Sue Clearfield, Derry Graves, Susan Jannotta, Carol Jefferson, Mike Moran, Patti Peltier, Sara Rath, Pat Scofield, Rebecca Schroeder, Paula Washow.

Some of the plants you might see

Teasel — A sturdy spiky oval pod — looks a bit like a porcupine and is extremely prickly to handle Common Evening Primrose — Easy to spot because of its tall, tubular pods that climb the stem Common Mullein — Amber-brown tall column-like stalks, they almost look like elongated ears of corn Hydrangea — Large globes of dried flowers — can be seen in front of many area homes blooming throughout the summer months

Photo via Arcadia Books This triptych gracing Arcadia Books’ front window is by Spring Green artist, Jen Salt. This work is a collaboration between River Valley ARTS and the Spring Green Musician In Residence Program. It features Bubbles Brown, a duo from Chicago, as they enjoyed the beauty of Frank’s Hill and the fall equinox.

The triptych will be at Arcadia till the weekend after Thanksgiving, then on to the General Store.

CLASSIFIEDS

Christmas Outreach serving the RV area Providing gifts and dinners at no cost.

Reach out to Emily Harrison 608-963-8884 for more details.

RSVP by Dec. 4. Space is Limited.

Want to be the first to read Valley Sentinel?

We can’t thank those who have stepped up to offer to help deliver papers enough, thank you!

Paper Distribution Routes Arena Subscribers: COVERED Arena Businesses: COVERED Lone Rock Subscribers: AVAILABLE Lone Rock Businesses: COVERED

Plain Subscribers: AVAILABLE Plain Businesses: AVAILABLE Spring Green Subscribers: AVAILABLE Spring Green Businesses: AVAILABLE

Interested?

Email: editor@valleysentinelnews.com or call 608-588-6694

Healthcare Employment Opportunities

*Director of Heart, Lung & Sleep Services – full-time exempt leadership position, $7,500.00 Employment Bonus! *Respiratory Therapists – full-time or part-time Evening/Night shift positions, 12 hour shifts available during the week days. Also a .6 FTE evening/night weekender shift premium pay position! $5,000.00 Employment Bonus available for benefit eligible positions! *Director of DME Services – full-time exempt management position in our Platteville office. *DME Delivery Service Technician – 1.0 FTE full-time position in our Platteville office. *RN opportunities – on our Med/Surg, Float, Emergency, ICU and OB units.

To find out more detailed information about all open positions and to apply, go to our website at www.uplandhillshealth.org.

Upland Hills Health 800 Compassion Way Dodgeville, WI 53533

Column/Outdoors & recreation

Page 10 Thursday, November 18, 2021

Hunting Column: Chris Hardie’s Back Home — Making scents of deer hunting Chris Hardie, Columnist I learned a new word the other day referring to the desire of hardcore deer hunters to be in their stand as the fall breeding season heats up.

Apparently, a “rutcation” is when you set aside some vacation days so that you can be in your deer stand rather than behind your desk at the height of the rut. The rut is the deer breeding season.

With due respect to the fairer sex who hunt deer, the seasonal physiological, behavioral and chemical changes in male deer hunters seem to match that of the bucks they seek.

At the peak of the time of year when bucks seek does, deer hunters seek deer stands.

I do not hunt the bow season. It’s not that I don’t want to, but carving out the time during the time of year when our winery and inn are their busiest and my day job has demands doesn’t work for me.

I do, however, take the time to enjoy the gun deer season — particularly the opening weekend. This year’s gun deer opener is Saturday, Nov. 20. That is usually the extent of my rutcation, although I may try to add some hunting hours on Thanksgiving if the season allows.

Some hunters plan their hunts year-round. They plant crops, create shooting lanes in the brush and spend hours before the season scouting with game cameras.

My offseason preparation consists of replacing a couple of logs on my ground stand, cutting some firewood for my outdoor wood stove and observing the signs that the deer are there. I know the land and know the deer’s patterns.

Last week during my pre-hunt visit to my stand, I evicted a few mice from my woodpile and cut a few more logs.

I also noticed the signs of bucks in my valley with scrapes and rubs.

Bucks like to mark their territory.

Rubs are when bucks rake their antlers on brush, small trees or saplings.

They peel the bark and leave behind scents from their forehead glands. You can’t judge the size of the buck by the size of the tree. Although bigger bucks tend to rub bigger trees, smaller bucks do it too. But it is true that older bucks are more active with rubs.

Bucks also create scrapes by pawing a bare patch of ground, usually in an oval shape and often under trees. The buck leaves behind scent from a gland located between the toes of their front hooves and will sometimes urinate down the tarsal glands on their inner lower legs for some additional aroma.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that

Chris Hardie the odor is similar to that of hunting clothes worn at deer camp for 10 straight days.

It’s the perfumey world of Eau de Rut when it comes to deer breeding season. There’s a lot of money and research that goes into creating both natural and artificial deer scents in a bottle with the purpose of attracting bucks.

While bucks often freshen up their scrapes, hunting over them isn’t a guarantee as most are visited after dark. But enthusiastic hunters looking to relieve their bladders can sometimes attract bucks by urinating on the scrapes themselves. No, I am not making this up. And no, I have not tried this technique, even if a similar effort failed to put out a tractor fire a few years ago.

It’s not just the ground that deer scent up. The overhead branches or the ends of the twigs are where bucks — and does — will chew and lick and deposit additional scent from their forehead and eye glands.

Bucks spar and fight for dominance.

To the victor goes the spoils — but only for a short time. A doe will only accept a male during peak estrus — which lasts only 24 to 36 hours. If a doe is not bred, the cycle can repeat in 23 to 30 days.

The rut in Wisconsin usually peaks before the gun deer season, but bucks still chase does for some of that late-season action. It’s nature’s way of assuring spring births for a higher survival rate.

I look forward to my 46th season of deer hunting. Here’s to a safe and successful hunt.

Chris Hardie spent more than 30 years as a reporter, editor and publisher. He was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and won dozens of state and national journalism awards. He is a former president of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. Contact him at chardie1963@gmail.com.

Business/Professional

Directory ork y W red t i l a u •Qu lly Ins ates •Fu e Estim e •Fr

J J and

Total Lawn Care

M-F Sat 8am-5p 8am -noo m n E4792 Kennedy Rd.

and

Snow Removal

James Harwood •608-588-2453•

•Natural double shredded oak bark mulch - $30/yard •Colored decorative mulch Red-Brown-Gold-Orange - $30/yard •Free delivery to the River Valley area (min. 2 yards) •Other landscape supplies available!

Gravel-Boulders-Screened Topsoil-Sand, etc.

We offer complete landscape and lawn care service •Full Landscaping from start to finish •Lawn Mowing We’ re y •Plantings stop our on sho e •Grading & Seedings p!

•Bark Spreading •Limestone & Boulder Retaining Walls

Photo by Chris Hardie, Columnist Bucks create scrapes with their hooves and leave behind scent.

Valley Sentinel wants to see your deer hunting pictures!

We’d love to see photos of the big buck or doe you bagged!

We celebrate big bucks, of course, but we want to see everything that celebrates the rich culture of deer hunting ... be it a youngster’s first deer, your view out in the field or from your stand.

Submit photos or videos with brief description, the hunter’s name (and the names of anyone else in the picture -

PRESENTED BY PREM MEATS

including the age of a youth hunter) along with the location.

Both archery and gun entries are welcome.

Hunter must be from Sauk, Richland or Iowa counties or hunted in those counties.

Categories include: Biggest Buck, Biggest Doe, Best Youth Harvest, Best View Out in the Field

Submissions:

editor@valleysentinelnews.com

Pictures must be received by Nov. 30.

PRIZES

Biggest Buck

Biggest Doe

1st Place: Vortex Crossfire 10x42 Binoculars, Free Deer Processing at Prem Meats ($120 value), $20 Kate’s Bait and Sporting Goods gift card 2nd Place: $50 Prem Meats gift card, Vortex blaze vest and hat 3rd Place: $25 Prem Meats gift card, Vortex Nalgene water bottle

1st Place: Vortex Crossfire 10x42 Binoculars, Free Deer Processing at Prem Meats ($120 value), $20 Kate’s Bait and Sporting Goods gift card 2nd Place: $50 Prem Meats gift card, Vortex blaze vest and hat 3rd Place: $25 Prem Meats gift card, Vortex Nalgene water bottle

Best Youth Harvest 1st Place: Free Deer Processing at Prem Meats ($120 value), $20 Kate’s Bait and Sporting Goods gift card 2nd Place: $50 Prem Meats gift card, Vortex blaze vest and hat 3rd Place: $25 Prem Meats gift card, Vortex Nalgene water bottle

Best View Out in the Field 1st Place: $50 Prem Meats gift card, Vortex blaze vest and hat, Kate’s Bait and Sporting Goods stocking cap 2nd Place: $25 Prem Meats gift card, Vortex Nalgene water bottle 3rd Place: $10 Prem Meats gift card, Vortex Nalgene water bottle

Thank you to our prize sponsors!

Kate’s Bait and Sporting Goods

See pages 5-6 for details.

2021 HIGHLIGHTS ARCHERY AND CROSSBOW This season, 36 counties will offer the antlerless2021 SEASON DATES only holiday hunt from Dec. 24 to Jan. 1, 2022.

Sept. 18 to Jan. 9, 2022 See pages 5-6 for details.

2021 HIGHLIGHTS ARCHERYSEASON AND CROSSBOW The and crossbow deer seasons have 2021 DATES This archery season, 36 counties will offer the antlerlessEXTENDED ARCHERY AND CROSSBOWPage 11 2021 HIGHLIGHTS been extended in 27 counties, closing 31, T h ursd a y , November 2021 See pages 5-6 for details. only holiday hunt from Dec. 24 to Jan. Jan. 1, 2022.

Sept.

18 to 18, Jan. 9, 2022 2021 SEASON DATES 2022.

Jan. 10-31, 2022 Seeseason, pages365-6 for details.

ARCHERY AND CROSSBOW This will offer the antlerlessThe archery andcounties crossbow deer seasons have 2021 HIGHLIGHTS REMAINING EXTENDED ARCHERY CROSSBOW Baiting and feeding regulations have changed ARCHERY AND only holiday hunt from Dec. to Jan. 2022.

Sept.

18 toCROSSBOW Jan.AND 9, 2022 beenseason, extended 27 counties, closing Jan. 31, 2021 SEASON DATES This 36 in counties will24 offer the 1, antlerless2021 HIGHLIGHTS YOUTH DEER in select counties.

Check the DNR website 2022.

See pages 5-6 for details.

2021 SEASON DATES Jan. 10-31, only holiday hunt from Dec. 24 to Jan. 1, 2022.

Sept.

18 to2022 Jan. 9, 2022

Outdoors & recreation

frequently for updates as baiting and feeding The archery and crossbow deer seasons have Oct. 9-10 See pages 5-6 for details.

EXTENDED ARCHERY AND CROSSBOW ARCHERY AND CROSSBOW been extended in 27 regulations counties, closing Jan. 31, bans may befeeding enacted or will extended during the Baiting and have changed This season, 36 counties offer the antlerlessThe archery and crossbow deer seasons have ARCHERY AND CROSSBOW YOUTH DEER 2022.

EXTENDED ARCHERY AND CROSSBOW 2021 deer season or beyond. in select counties.

Check the24 DNR website Jan. 10-31, only holiday hunt from Dec. to Jan. 2022.

Sept.

18 to2022 Jan. 9, 2022 been extended 27 counties, closing Jan. 31, This season, 36 in counties will offer the 1, antlerlessGUN DEER HUNT FOR HUNTERS WITH DISABILITIES* frequently forhunt updates baiting 2022. only holiday from as Dec. 24 to and Jan. feeding 1, 2022.

Sept.

18 to2022 Jan. 9, 2022 Oct. 10-31, 9-10 Jan. Baiting and feeding regulations have changed Some Farmland Zone counties have modified The archery and crossbow deer seasons have Oct. 2-10 bans may be enacted or extended during the YOUTH DEER EXTENDED ARCHERY AND CROSSBOW in select counties.

Check the DNR website the number of antlerless harvest authorizations been extended incrossbow 27 counties, closing Jan.have 31, Baiting and feeding regulations have changed The archery and deer seasons 2021 deer season or beyond.

EXTENDED ARCHERY CROSSBOW GUN DEER HUNT FOR AND HUNTERS WITH DISABILITIES* that will be issued with each license.

Some Metro frequently for updates as baiting and feeding YOUTH DEER 2022.

Oct. 9-10 been extended in 27 counties, closing Jan. 31, in select counties.

Check the DNR website Jan. 10-31, 2022 TRADITIONAL NINE-DAY GUN DEER Sub-units also have modified permit availability. bans may be enacted or extended during the 2022.

Some Farmland Zone counties have modified frequently for updates as baiting and feeding Jan. 10-31, 2-10 2022 Oct. 9-10 Baiting and have changed 2021 deer season or regulations beyond. the number of antlerless harvest authorizations Nov. 20-28 bans may befeeding enacted or extended during the GUN DEER HUNT FOR HUNTERS WITH DISABILITIES* YOUTH DEER Bonus antlerless harvest authorizations went in select counties.

Check the DNR website Baiting and feeding regulations have changed that will be issued with each license.

Some Metro 2021 deer season or beyond. on sale Aug. 16 and can be purchased at a rate YOUTH DEER TRADITIONAL NINE-DAY GUN DEER Some Farmland Zone counties have modified GUN DEER HUNT FOR HUNTERS WITH DISABILITIES* frequently for updates as the baiting and feeding Sub-units also have modified permit availability. in select counties.

Check DNR website 2-10 Oct. 9-10 METRO SUB-UNIT GUN DEER** of one perbe person peror day.

Sales began each the number of antlerless harvest authorizations bans may enacted extended during the frequently for updates as baiting and feeding Some Farmland Zone counties have modified 9-10 Nov. 20-28 Oct. 2-10 day at 10 a.m. during theeach first four days of sales. that will be license.

Some Metro Bonus antlerless harvest authorizations went 2021 deer season orwith beyond.

Nov. 20 to Dec. 8 GUN DEER bans may beissued or extended during the the number ofenacted antlerless harvest authorizations TRADITIONAL NINE-DAY Bonus harvest authorizations were sold zone GUN DEER HUNT FOR HUNTERS WITH DISABILITIES* Sub-units also modified permit availability. on sale Aug. 16have and can be purchased at by a rate that will be issued each license.

Some Metro 2021 deer season orwith beyond. according to the following schedule: Aug. 16 GUN DEER HUNT WITH DISABILITIES* METRO SUB-UNIT GUNHUNTERS DEER** of oneFarmland peralso person per day. Sales began each TRADITIONAL NINE-DAY GUN DEER Some Zone counties have modified Nov. 20-28 Sub-units have modified permit availability.

Oct. 2-10 FOR MUZZLELOADER (Northern Forest and the Central Zone), Aug. 17 Bonus antlerless harvest authorizations went daynumber atFarmland 10 a.m. first Forest four days of sales. the of during antlerless harvest authorizations Some Zone counties have modified Oct. 2-10 20 to Dec. 8 Nov. 20-28 (Central Farmland Zone), Aug. 18 (Southern on sale Aug. 16 antlerless and can each beand purchased at by a rate Bonus harvest authorizations were sold zone that will be issued with license.

Some Metro Bonus antlerless harvest authorizations went the number of harvest authorizations Nov.SUB-UNIT 29 to Dec. Farmland Zone).

Starting Aug. 19, all remaining METRO GUN8DEER** of one per person per day.

Sales began each TRADITIONAL NINE-DAY GUN DEER according to the following schedule: Aug. 16 Sub-units also modified permit availability. on 16have andwith can be purchased at a rate thatsale willAug. be issued each license.

Some Metro tags may be purchased until the unit sells out or day at 10 a.m. during the first four days of sales.

TRADITIONAL NINE-DAY GUN DEER (Northern Forest and Central Forest Zone), Aug. 17 MUZZLELOADER METRO SUB-UNIT GUN DEER** of one peralso person per day. Sales began each Sub-units have modified permit availability.

Nov. 20 to Dec. 8 20-28 the deer hunting season ends.

FOUR-DAY ANTLERLESS HUNT Bonus harvest authorizations were18 sold by zone (Central Zone), and (Southern Bonus harvest went day at antlerless 10Farmland a.m. during the authorizations first Aug. four days of sales.

20-28 29 to Dec. 8 Nov. 20 according to 16 the following schedule: Aug. 16 Farmland Zone).

Starting 19, allsold remaining on saleharvest Aug. and can beAug. purchased at by a rate antlerless harvest authorizations went Bonus authorizations were zone Dec. 9-12 CWD testing is available to Sales hunters statewide.

MUZZLELOADER (Northern Forest and Central Forest Zone), Aug. 17 METRO SUB-UNIT GUN DEER** tags may be purchased until the unit sells out An or of one per person per day. began on sale Aug. 16 can be schedule: purchased ateach a16 rate according to theand following Aug. improved online testing form and test results in (Central Farmland Zone), and Aug. 18 (Southern theone deer hunting season ends. day at 10 a.m. during first fourbegan days of sales.

METRO SUB-UNIT GUN8DEER** FOUR-DAY HUNT of per person perthe day.

Sales each MUZZLELOADER (Northern Forest and Central Forest Zone), Aug. 17 Nov. 29ANTLERLESS to Dec. 20 hunters’ Go Wild harvest Aug. history getting Farmland Zone).

Starting 19, makes all remaining ANTLERLESS-ONLY HOLIDAY HUNT** Bonus authorizations were sold bysales. zone day at harvest 10Farmland a.m. during the and first Aug. four days of (Central Zone), 18 (Southern Nov. 20 to Dec. 8 deer tested even more convenient.

Expanded Dec. 9-12 29 tags be the sells out or CWDmay testing is available to hunters statewide.

An according to purchased the following schedule: Aug. 16 Bonus harvest authorizations were by zone Farmland Zone).

Startinguntil Aug. 19, unit allsold remaining Dec. 24ANTLERLESS to Jan. 1, 2022 CWD testing in northeast Wisconsin continues as the deer season ends.

FOUR-DAY HUNT improved online testing form andunit test results MUZZLELOADER (Northern Forest and Central Forest Zone), Aug. 17 according to purchased the following schedule: Aug. 16 tags mayhunting be until the sells out in or part of a multi-year rotation. hunters’ Go Wild harvest history makes getting (Central Zone), and Aug. 18Zone), (Southern MUZZLELOADER (Northern Forest and Central Aug. 17 ANTLERLESS-ONLY HOLIDAY the deerFarmland hunting season ends.Forest FOUR-DAY ANTLERLESS Dec. 29 9-12 Nov. to Dec. 8 HUNTHUNT** CWD is available to hunters statewide. deer testing tested even more convenient.

Expanded Farmland Zone).

Starting Aug. 19, all18 remaining (Central Farmland Zone), and Aug. (SouthernAn The DNR is also offering ways to volunteer Nov. 29 Dec.1,8 2022 Dec. 24 to Jan. improved online testing form and test results in 9-12 CWDmay testing in available northeast Wisconsin continues as tags be purchased the sells out An or CWD testing is to hunters Farmland Zone).

Startinguntil Aug. 19,unit allstatewide. remaining through the Adopt-a-Kiosk and Adopt-ahunters’ Go Wild harvest history makes getting *On sponsored properties only part of a multi-year rotation.

ANTLERLESS-ONLY HOLIDAY the deer hunting season ends.

FOUR-DAY ANTLERLESS HUNTHUNT** improved online testinguntil formthe andunit testsells results tags may be purchased out in or Dumpster programs and the new Deer Donation deer tested even more convenient.

Expanded hunters’ Go Wild harvest history makes getting the deer hunting season ends.

FOUR-DAY ANTLERLESS HUNT ANTLERLESS-ONLY HOLIDAY HUNT** **In select DMUs only.

Partners Program.

24 to Jan. 1, 2022 Dec. 9-12 CWD testing in available northeast Wisconsin continues An as The DNR is also offering ways to volunteer CWD testing is to hunters statewide. deer tested even more convenient.

Expanded part of a the multi-year rotation.

Dec. 9-12 through Adopt-a-Kiosk and Adopt-a24 to5Jan. 1, 2022 only improved online testing form and test results in See page forproperties details. is available to hunters statewide.

An CWD testing in northeast Wisconsin continues as *On sponsored Dumpster programs and form the new Deer Donation hunters’ Wild harvest history makes gettingin improved online testing and test results part of aGo multi-year rotation.

ANTLERLESS-ONLY HOLIDAY HUNT** The DNR is also ways to volunteer **In select DMUs only.

Partners Program. deer tested even more convenient.

Expanded hunters’ Go Wildoffering harvest history makes getting ANTLERLESS-ONLY HOLIDAY HUNT** through the Adopt-a-Kiosk and Adopt-aDec. 24 to Jan. 1, 2022 CWD testing in northeast Wisconsin continues as *On sponsored The is also offering ways to volunteer deerDNR tested even more convenient.

Expanded See page 5 forproperties details. only Dumpster programs and the new Deer Donation Dec. 24 to Jan.properties 1, 2022 only part a the multi-year rotation. through Adopt-a-Kiosk and Adopt-aCWDof testing in northeast Wisconsin continues as *On sponsored **In select DMUs only.

Partners Program.

Dumpster programs and the new Deer Donation part of aFall multi-year rotation.

2021 Deer Forecast, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Page 2 The DNR is also offering ways to volunteer **In select only.

Partners Program.

See pageDMUs 5 for details. through the Adopt-a-Kiosk and Adopt-aThe DNR is also offering ways to volunteer *On sponsored See page 5 forproperties details. only Dumpster programs and theand newAdopt-aDeer Donation through the Adopt-a-Kiosk *On sponsored properties only Page 2 2021 Deer Fall Forecast, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources **In select DMUs only.

Partners DumpsterProgram. programs and the new Deer Donation andPartners 2020,Program.

Wisconsin deer hunters **In select DMUs only.

See page 5 for details.

2021 DEER SEASON FORECAST

With a mild 2020-21 winter and betions went on sale Aug. 16 and can be low-average harvests in 2019 and 2020, purchased at a rate of one per With a mild 2020-21 winter and below-average harvests inperson 2019 Wisconsin deer hunters can look forper day.

Sales began each day at 10the a.m.state. Although more deer will can look forward to increased harvest opportunities around Page 2 ward to increased harvest opportunities during the first four days of sales. Bonus 2021 Deer Fall Forecast, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources See page 5 for details. around the state.

Although more deer 2021 Deer Fall Forecast,a Wisconsin Natural Resources Page 2 be taken on private land, our state’s 7 million acres were of public hunters wideDepartment rangeofof harvest authorizations sold byland zone offer will be taken on private land, our state’s according The to theWisconsin following schedule: Aug. habitats with great hunting possibilities.

Department of Natural Resources (DNR) 7 million acres of public land offer hunt16 (Northern Forest and Central Forest 2021 Deer Fall Forecast, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Page 2 wishes everyofhunter safe, fun season shared with family and friends. ers a wide range habitatsawith great Zone), Aug. 17 (Central Farmland Zone), 2021 Deer Fall Forecast, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Page 2 hunting possibilities. The Wisconsin and Aug. 18 (Southern Farmland Zone).

Eric Canania, DNR Deer Biologist Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Starting Aug. 19, all remaining tags may Whether public or privatebeland, scouting is key to a successful harvest. Wisconsin prides level of variation i wishes every hunting hunter a safe, fun season purchased until the unit sells out or Across the Southern District, wildlife shared and friends. itselfwith on family the quality of its deer hunting, changes habitat and deer behavior mean that the deerbut hunting season in ends. and quality contri biologists are very optimistic about 2021 Highlights CWD testing availablelocation to huntersor scouting hunters need to adapt as well, changing theirisblind’s new hunt. the 2021 deerterritory season. Into 2019, the late deer population th This season, 36 counties will offer the statewide. An improved online testing Canania, DNR Deer startpart to Eric the season andIfBiologist reCan Gettingonly outholiday therehunt before toand explore andinmake plans ofgun thedeer adventure. antlerless fromthe Dec.season form test results hunters’ Go is a big mile to theEric next. crop across the district 24things to Jan. haven’t 1, 2022. panned out as hoped Wildthe harvest makes getting pasthistory few years, maybedeer this iscord thestanding year to try some new eric.can broughteric.canania@wisconsin.gov below-average deer harvests, The archery and crossbow deer seasons tested even more convenient.

Expandareas.

The DNR offers Hunt Wild Wisconsin, a free mobile app with habitat layersintoa help hunters Deer numbers do which resulted population increase have been extended in 27 counties, clos- ed CWD testing in northeast Wisconfind timberassales huntable public land.

Like the grouse and in most counties.

This population ing Jan.younger 31, 2022.forests created by recent sin continues part ofon a multi-year the westernAcross and c Across Baiting and feeding regulations have rotation. increase and favorable weather condiwoodcock, deer like young forests. Hunters can also use another DNR tool Southern called FFLIGHT, which due to habitat con Southe changed in select counties. Check the For a complete overview of all deer tions, despite a warm rut, led to a very highlights habitat and publicaslandhunting for grouse and woodcock hunters.

DNR website frequently for updates rules, including changes for this opportunities to h District, wildlife successful deer harvest in 2020, with District baiting and feeding bans may be enacted season, please check the 2021 Wisconsin a 19% harvest increase in the district. quality bucks can biologists are biologi orFor extended during the 2021 deerof season Hunting Regulations, which are available a complete overview all deer hunting rules, including changesCurrently, for this season, please check all signs point toward that or beyond. online, at hunting license vendors or at make up the south very optimistic very op continuing in 2021.

In addition, the 2021 Wisconsin Hunting which are For available online, trend at hunting license vendors or Some Farmland Zone counties haveRegulations, DNR Service Centers. additional shed hunter in Ro antlerless harvests have come in below about the 2021 about t modifi ed the numberCenters. of antlerless information, visit dnr.wi.gov and search and search “deer.” There, you at DNR Service Forharadditional information, visit dnr.wi.gov quota for the past couple years.

This vest authorizations that will be issued “deer.” There, you will find an abuna new statedeer record deerto season.

In a place se willeach find an abundance helpful dance information maps, combined resources help productive find with highly farm with license.

Some Metro of Sub-units of helpfulincluding informationFAQs, including Southern District 2019, the late 2019, th production has led to an ever-increasto have huntmodifi anded more. also permit availability.

FAQs, maps, resources to help find a Early season natu Bonus antlerless harvest authorizaplace to hunt and more. ing deerstart population much of In areas where deer numbers are the start to to thethroughout gun despite the Southern Farmland Zone. highest, we can sometimes see habitata cold sna deer season and deer se Despite increasing deer numbers, it RC damage and a reduction in sources habitat provide p record is important forstanding hunters to remember quality, resulting in deer traveling fur- record 2021 Deer Season Structure hunters to locate d habitat crop quantity and quality ther looking for other sources of food. crop ac across the varies And Management Zones early season forbs greatly across the landscape. As a result, Most deer within the southern district district brought below-average deer harvests, district Bayfield the number of deer inhabiting individare harvested on private property, Douglas crops. The USDA W which resulted in a population increase in most ual properties can vary signifi cantly. which makes up more than 90% of the which r Iron states that crops a The southern district encompasses a landscape here.

However, excellent deer Ashland counties. This population increase and favorable countie Vilas wide range of deer habitat types rangahead of last year hunting can also be found on the tens LdF aofwarm rut,ofled toof county, state weathe Burnett Washburn LCO ing fromweather the high conditions, wooded ridgesdespite and thousands acres Florence Oneida of the five-year av Sawyer coulees aofvery the southwest to the flat, harvest successful deer in federally 2020, with a lands open to deer a very s and owned Price Northern Forest Forest Marinette mean a quality yie productive south central hunting in southern Wisconsin.

Public 19%farmlands harvestofincrease in the district.

Currently, 19% ha Rusk Polk Wisconsin. This high level of variation Zone 1 lands often get a bad rap, but savvy for increas Barron harvest alltypes, signsconditions point toward that trend continuing Lincoln in habitat and quality hunters who are dedicated, adaptable all sign Oconto Langlade Marinette Taylor contributes to a stable to increasing and not afraidhave to go the extra mile season in 2021.

In addition, antlerless harvests in food 2021.

Early Chippewa Menominee deer population that can vary from one (sometimes literally) will fi nd advenSt. Croix Dunn come in below quota for the past couple years.

Oconto come ine clover, Marathon square mile to the next. ture and plenty of deer to match witssoybeans, Clark Door Shawano This combined highly productive farm Pierce Deer numbers do tend to with be somewhat This co mast product with each fall. Be prepared and to adapt Pepin Eau Claire Waupaca higher in the western and central porWood to changing conditions and don’t be production has led to an ever-increasing deer hunters to produc begin t PortageCentral tions of the district due to habitat conafraid to be mobile. Keep an eye out for Outagamie Brown Buffalo population throughout much of the Southern populao Jackson season Central ditions. However, excellent opportunithose natural food sources that attractscouting Farmland Manitowoc Farmland Zone. ties to harvest multiple deer and quality deer and pattern their movements Farmlan as welltoas other ea Forest Zone 2 bucks can be found in all counties that and from feeding locations significantly and back to Zone 1 Waushara Winnebago reduc La Crosse make upDespite the southern district. In fact,numbers, a their daytime bedding areas. increasing deer it is important Adams Marquette Despite Monroe Fort McCoy hunting season an Lac du local shed hunter in Rock County found Green Fond Southern district deer hunters should Juneau Lake forbehunters to record remember habitat quantity and for hun what may a new state antler be aware that CWD continues to of unpressu Vernon range Columbia quality varies greatly across the landscape. rack in early 2020. increase in prevalence and geographic quality Dodge Sauk Southern their patterns up a Richland Early season natural the food number sources of deer Ozaukee areainhabiting within the district and state. In As a result, As a res pressure. fared well despite a cold snap in early Farmland Zone 2 2020, Wisconsin had another record Once the Crawford individual properties can vary significantly.

The spring. These food sources provide year of detected positives, a longer majorityavailable of individu Jefferson o Iowa Waukesha Milwaukee Dane southern district encompasses a wide range plenty of opportunities for hunters which came from the southern district. southe Grant rang Rock to locateofdeer taking advantage of the County saw itsexpand first wild their Racine deer habitat types rangingWashington from the high of deer Green Walworth Lafayette early season forbs as well as soft and CWD positive deer in 2020, and baiting Kenosha wooded ridges and coulees of the southwest wooded In areas de hard mast crops. The USDA Wisconsin and feeding deer is now prohibited in where Crop Progress states that crops to theReport flat, productive farmlands southall 18of counties in the district. to the fl we can sometimes across the state are not only ahead all, 2021 is shaping up to be a good Antlerless-only Holiday Hunt and Extended Archery Seasons: central Wisconsin.

The of districtInalso includes central reduction in habit last year but are also currently ahead of year, and we look forward to another Antlerless-only Holiday Hunt: Dec. 24 - Jan. 1, 2022 the urbanized landscape of the southeastern the urb traveling further lo the five-year average. Hopefully this will excellent deer season in the southern Antlerless-only Holiday Hunt + either-sex Extended Archery and Crossbow: through Jan. 31, 2022 mean a counties quality yield for farmers and a district.

On behalf of the Wisconsin along Lake Michigan’s border.

This high countie food. This is where Metro Sub-units: See regulations for more information on boundary lines and extended season dates timely harvest for increased hunting DNR, we wish everyone a safe and sucNon-quota Area: No harvest authorizations issued by the Wisconsin DNR opportunities. cessful hunting season.

2021 Deer Fall Forecast, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 2021 Dee

2021 REGIONAL FORECASTS 202

Kewaunee

Calumet

Washington

Sheboygan

Trempealeau

Southern District

2021 Deer Fall Forecast, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Page 5

South

Outdoors/recreation

Page 12 Thursday, November 18, 2021

An Outdoorsman’s Journal

Mark Walters, Contributor

Big Bucks on the Chippewa Hello friends, I recently returned from what was the longest adventure that I have gone on in years. My bowhunting, camping, canoe trip to Pepin and Buffalo Counties’ Tiffany Bottoms State Natural Area was supposed to start on a Friday and end on a Wednesday.

A couple sightings of some big bucks later and I ended up adding five wellspent days to my adventure. There is a ton to write about with this week’s column — so, naturally, I will be all over the map.

Wednesday, November 3rd High 46, Low 28

When this adventure would come to an end, I would have canoed from my camp for one mile in the dark each morning ten times and one mile in the dark back to camp ten times. I did twenty hunts and did not miss a one.

The swamp that I am hunting is loaded with beaver and there are two interesting stories on that subject. One is the warning shot across the bow.

In total darkness, at least 80 times I had beaver slap their tails on the water as a warning to other beavers of my presence. The kits, which weigh maybe ten pounds, do this from at least 15-feet away. The adults seem to take pleasure in trying to do it from five feet

and actually hitting me with water.

Another interesting fact is that where I am hunting there is a steep bluff on one side of the water and a semi flooded forest on the other. In the time that I have been here I have watched the beaver add six inches of mud to the top of their dam and they are now flooding the forest.

This morning I was sitting in my stand, and I saw, if I had harvested it, what would have been the biggest buck of my life. I am talking maybe 19-inches but very tall and lots of mass. When I saw it, it was only 30-yards away but there was brush. At 25 yards I could have taken a top half of the body shot with the rest obstructed by brush, so I chose not to.

Just like that, my trophy took a trail that led away from me, and the game was over. This leads to a very common conversation in the bow hunting world.

I’m sixty, I climb 16 feet up in a tree, it’s below freezing, a buck walks by and here are some scenarios: My balance is excellent, but I am sixty, not thirty. This can really affect your shooting with a compound bow. It is very easy to get busted by “Mr. Buck” when you are in a tree, trying to pull a bow back in cold weather and sixty.

Two years ago, I was at this same place and a beautiful ten pointer gave me an easy shot. I was halfway back on my draw and my shoulder locked up, so the buck walked away.

Photo by Mark Walters, Contributor This was a great place to spend eleven days!

Photo by Mark Walters, Contributor This bull elk was spotted in Adams County on November 7th!

Every hunter will go through this or go to a crossbow or give up hunting.

Today’s buck would’ve been dead with a crossbow.

Thursday, November 4th High 52, Low 30

Photo by Mark Walters, Contributor Good buddies Jeff Moll and Doug Cibulka enjoying a day on the Menominee River near Niagara.

I paddled in the dark, climbed a tree in the dark, was on average seeing one deer a day but yet to hit it for today and loving life. At 7:45 I saw a buck about 80-yards away about to cross a marsh and headed my way. I have never been a big buck or nothing kind of guy, but the last few years I have passed up some smaller ones.

Today is day seven of this trip and so far, I have seen six bucks and four does.

This buck was world class big. In no way am I exaggerating when I say it was the biggest buck that I have ever seen in the wild and no one in my gang has killed this big of a buck. Thirty yards before he got to my stand and in some brush, he took a right that would lead him away from me and that was basically the dagger for this trip.

I lived a simple life for 11-full days and loved every minute of it. The majority of my food was grown at my house or caught or shot during my adventures. My

work ethic was excellent and I have to admit the crossbow question is a big one on my mind. I also could have harvested a ten-pointer, not huge but pretty, on day three had I been using a crossbow. I will not shoot at a deer over 25-yards with a compound bow and in reality, my comfort zone ends at 22.

While on this trip I had a lot of friends on adventures that would text me and one sent me a picture of a bull elk in Adams County and I hear there are two of them, rifle hunters better be thinking before you shoot.

Also, my good buddies Jeff Moll and Doug Cibulka were on an annual duck hunt on the Menominee River in Marinette County and it was a lot of fun to communicate with them by text while sitting in a tree.

Soon we’ll be chasing fish on frozen water, enjoy every day like it’s your last!

—Sunset

Want to read more?

Check out previous weeks’ columns at www.outdoorsmansjournal.com

I’m standing up to extreme partisanship in our state.

Visit www.tripp.vote to learn more. You can follow me on social media @VoteForTripp.

Paid for by Tripp Stroud’s Friends and Neighbors PO Box 512, Spring Green, WI 53588

@VoteForTripp — www.tripp.vote