I’m sure many will be glad to see 2010 over. It was a year that many struggled with bills and finances. Those who live in big cities worry about just putting food on the table, but those of us who live in this part of the world can go down to the Wisconsin river or one of the river bottom sloughs and catch supper almost any day of the year.
If you’re a hunter, you can fill your freezer with game in the fall and feast for a long time on your stored up meat. If you spent enough time hunting squirrels, ducks, geese, turkeys, deer and rabbits you’d be surprised at how much game you could amass. And it’s good food, fresh, wholesome and best of all….free.
We’re lucky to live in a place where there is such bounty. And no matter what the economy is doing, there is always something to draw you to the woods or waters that you can take home and feed your family with.
I hope the new year is better for everyone. But even if it isn’t, you can be glad that you live in such a beautiful part of the world where you can feed yourself with the bounty of Mother Nature. Happy New Year to all. Best of luck in 2011.
post by: Dan Bomkamp
Outdoor Sports | SW Wisconsin Real Estate | Land, Farms, Rural Homes
Friday, December 31, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Our Christmas Cat
Everyone who knows me knows that I’ve been a Golden Retriever lover for over 40 years. I’ve had dogs my whole life but never a cat. That changed this spring.
Last fall there was a stray cat hanging around my birdfeeders and I felt sorry for her. So, I started feeding her. She stayed around and this spring she showed up one day with a tiny gray tiger kitten. As the kitten grew it became more and more friendly and soon it was following us into the house. The mother still allows me to feed her but won’t let me touch her.
Eventually the kitten became Tigger and moved in. I quickly changed my mind on cats. The dang thing is more darn fun. My old golden Kate even gets along with her.
Saturday we decided to put up the Christmas tree. We were stringing lights when the tree began to shake and rock back and forth and there was Tigger climbing up the center of it. We kept decorating and removed Tigger from the tree and finally finished.
Within half an hour, Tigger had managed to remove every ornament between the floor and the first three feet of the tree. Most were broken and some just batted around until they ended up under something where she left them alone. Then she began scaling the tree again to get the rest of them.
We decided to have a minimalist tree this year. All it has on it is an angel at the very top, and a cat that lounges in the branches at mid-tree. She keeps trying to get up high enough to get the angel but for now, she hasn’t succeeded. I’m not giving odds on the safety of the angel though. Actually the tree looks kind of nice au natural and Tigger seems very happy with her new jungle gym.
Last fall there was a stray cat hanging around my birdfeeders and I felt sorry for her. So, I started feeding her. She stayed around and this spring she showed up one day with a tiny gray tiger kitten. As the kitten grew it became more and more friendly and soon it was following us into the house. The mother still allows me to feed her but won’t let me touch her.
Eventually the kitten became Tigger and moved in. I quickly changed my mind on cats. The dang thing is more darn fun. My old golden Kate even gets along with her.
Saturday we decided to put up the Christmas tree. We were stringing lights when the tree began to shake and rock back and forth and there was Tigger climbing up the center of it. We kept decorating and removed Tigger from the tree and finally finished.
Within half an hour, Tigger had managed to remove every ornament between the floor and the first three feet of the tree. Most were broken and some just batted around until they ended up under something where she left them alone. Then she began scaling the tree again to get the rest of them.
We decided to have a minimalist tree this year. All it has on it is an angel at the very top, and a cat that lounges in the branches at mid-tree. She keeps trying to get up high enough to get the angel but for now, she hasn’t succeeded. I’m not giving odds on the safety of the angel though. Actually the tree looks kind of nice au natural and Tigger seems very happy with her new jungle gym.
 |
| Merry Christmas |
post by: Dan Bomkamp
Friday, December 17, 2010
Are Your Animals Safe?
When the temperatures drop into the -20 range like they did earlier this week you have to think about the comfort and safety of your outdoor animals. Many people have dogs that live outside all year. They need a good warm house to get inside on these cold nights. One mistake that many make is to get a dog house that is too large. The house should be just large enough for the dog to get in, turn around and curl up. A heavy flap on the door is also a good idea to keep out the cold wind. You need to provide good clean dry bedding for them too.
Dogs need extra food during the cold winter too. They should be fed half again as much as usual and need clean water at least once a day. Better yet, if you can feed them twice a day and water them it’s even better. They need a lot of food to create body heat to keep them warm.
On those really cold nights when it gets to -20 or so, bring them inside. Even a garage or basement will be a big improvement over staying out in the cold outdoors. These animals depend on you to keep them safe and sound. If you see someone neglecting their animals, don’t just overlook it either. Call the Humane Society or Sheriff and see to it they get some care. They can’t do it for themselves, they need our help.
post by: Dan Bomkamp
Dogs need extra food during the cold winter too. They should be fed half again as much as usual and need clean water at least once a day. Better yet, if you can feed them twice a day and water them it’s even better. They need a lot of food to create body heat to keep them warm.
On those really cold nights when it gets to -20 or so, bring them inside. Even a garage or basement will be a big improvement over staying out in the cold outdoors. These animals depend on you to keep them safe and sound. If you see someone neglecting their animals, don’t just overlook it either. Call the Humane Society or Sheriff and see to it they get some care. They can’t do it for themselves, they need our help.
post by: Dan Bomkamp
Monday, December 13, 2010
Don't Forget The Birds
If you’re one of those who enjoys feeding the birds, now is not the time to let your feeders go empty. This deep snow and harsh weather will be hard on our little friends and they will depend on you even more than usual. And of course if you feed birds you probably feed squirrels too, whether you want to or not.
I feed about 1,000 pounds of bird seed each year. I’ve been doing it for years and enjoy it immensely. I gave up on trying to keep the squirrels out of my feeders years ago and just bought a few more feeders so there’s room for everybody.
With the freezing rain and snow I found my feeders in bad shape Sunday morning. Of course they were all empty and covered with ice and snow to the point that I had to take a screwdriver to chip them free so the seed would come out. I wasn’t three feet away from them and the birds began flying to them. It’s amazing how many will come on a day like that.
Birds and squirrels have been around for many years and most likely would get along without us feeding them, but it gives me a lot of satisfaction to see them all clustered around my feeders enjoying themselves and getting enough nutrition to stay alive for another day. I even enjoy watching the squirrels fight and scrap over feeder rights.
If you don’t feed birds you might want to give it a try. If you know someone who doesn’t and they’re on your Christmas list, a birdfeeder and a bag of seed would make a gift that would give them a lot of enjoyment.
post by: Dan Bomkamp
I feed about 1,000 pounds of bird seed each year. I’ve been doing it for years and enjoy it immensely. I gave up on trying to keep the squirrels out of my feeders years ago and just bought a few more feeders so there’s room for everybody.
With the freezing rain and snow I found my feeders in bad shape Sunday morning. Of course they were all empty and covered with ice and snow to the point that I had to take a screwdriver to chip them free so the seed would come out. I wasn’t three feet away from them and the birds began flying to them. It’s amazing how many will come on a day like that.
Birds and squirrels have been around for many years and most likely would get along without us feeding them, but it gives me a lot of satisfaction to see them all clustered around my feeders enjoying themselves and getting enough nutrition to stay alive for another day. I even enjoy watching the squirrels fight and scrap over feeder rights.
If you don’t feed birds you might want to give it a try. If you know someone who doesn’t and they’re on your Christmas list, a birdfeeder and a bag of seed would make a gift that would give them a lot of enjoyment.
post by: Dan Bomkamp
Friday, December 10, 2010
Early Ice Fishing Favorites
For years I used to drive to the Mississippi River every weekend to go ice fishing. Many times my friends and I came home with a pail full of fish, and many times we came home with very few fish. After a while I decided to try fishing the local river bottoms and was pleasantly surprised. There are lots of fish right here and I don’t have to drive an hour to fish for them.
Wisconsin River Ice Fishing
In the early days we caught many fish and most were too small to keep. But then more and more people began fishing here as the gas prices rose and soon a Saturday would have 30 fishermen on Gutweilers or Puffenrots. Those increased numbers of fishermen took out more fish and in a few years the size began to increase. The smaller numbers of fish left behind had more food and grew bigger faster.
There are sloughs from Spring Green to Boscobel and every one of them has fish in them. Of course some are better than others but they are all worth exploring. Crusin Slough is near Lone Rock and always a favorite. It has some good bluegill fishing and plenty of northerns.
Avoca lake is the only slough in the area that has not only bluegills, perch, crappies, northerns and bass, but it also has an occasional walleye in it. Avoca is right off the river and in times of high water, a few walleyes stray in and stay there.
The best early slough in the Muscoda area is Postels, or The Camp as it is known locally. It’s located about 3 miles west of Muscoda and always an early favorite. It produces nice bluegills and often some nice crappies up until about the New Year and then seems to quiet down. Nearly every year there is a northern in the 15# range caught there also.
I’m sure there are many favorites out there and we’ve only covered a few, but don’t overlook the ice fishing in the Wisconsin River bottoms. There are plenty of fish and lots of places to try out.
post by: Dan Bomkamp
Wisconsin River Ice Fishing
In the early days we caught many fish and most were too small to keep. But then more and more people began fishing here as the gas prices rose and soon a Saturday would have 30 fishermen on Gutweilers or Puffenrots. Those increased numbers of fishermen took out more fish and in a few years the size began to increase. The smaller numbers of fish left behind had more food and grew bigger faster.
There are sloughs from Spring Green to Boscobel and every one of them has fish in them. Of course some are better than others but they are all worth exploring. Crusin Slough is near Lone Rock and always a favorite. It has some good bluegill fishing and plenty of northerns.
Avoca lake is the only slough in the area that has not only bluegills, perch, crappies, northerns and bass, but it also has an occasional walleye in it. Avoca is right off the river and in times of high water, a few walleyes stray in and stay there.
The best early slough in the Muscoda area is Postels, or The Camp as it is known locally. It’s located about 3 miles west of Muscoda and always an early favorite. It produces nice bluegills and often some nice crappies up until about the New Year and then seems to quiet down. Nearly every year there is a northern in the 15# range caught there also.
I’m sure there are many favorites out there and we’ve only covered a few, but don’t overlook the ice fishing in the Wisconsin River bottoms. There are plenty of fish and lots of places to try out.
post by: Dan Bomkamp
Monday, December 6, 2010
Hey, Got Any Granola?
So here you are on a Montana trout stream fishing when you hear a tiny footstep behind you in the stream. You turn to see a fawn watching you from just a few feet away. So you talk to the little critter and it walks right up to you.
Some other fishermen come by and one has a granola bar. It seems that deer like granola because the fawn takes a bite of it right from the guy’s mouth.
These pictures were sent to me by my friend Ed out in Arizona. I don’t know where he comes up with all of these cool things but I enjoyed them and thought the readers would too.
It’s amazing how many things like this you can see by spending time in the woods. Spring turkey hunting here in Wisconsin I’ve seen many really cool things. The secret is to have that camera handy all the time. If the readers happen to get a fun shot of some critter please send it to me and I’ll share it with the others.
post by: Dan Bomkamp
Land for sale with trout streams in Wisconsin
These pictures were sent to me by my friend Ed out in Arizona. I don’t know where he comes up with all of these cool things but I enjoyed them and thought the readers would too.
It’s amazing how many things like this you can see by spending time in the woods. Spring turkey hunting here in Wisconsin I’ve seen many really cool things. The secret is to have that camera handy all the time. If the readers happen to get a fun shot of some critter please send it to me and I’ll share it with the others.
post by: Dan Bomkamp
Land for sale with trout streams in Wisconsin
Friday, December 3, 2010
Deer Season Wrap
2010 WISCONSIN GUN DEER HUNT STATS
The Regular 9 day season is over. But if you’re a muzzle loader hunter you started last Monday and can hunt until Dec. 8. And then if you’re still not hunted out, you can participate in the Dec. 9 – 12 Antlerless hunt. Then it will finally be over. It seems like the Never-ending Story doesn’t it?
Early figures show a kill of just over 218,000 which is up 11% over last year.
There were 612,000 hunters who bought licenses for this past season. Of those, 11,000 were kids 10 and 11 who hunted under the Mentoring hunt. There were no gun accidents with any of the Mentored kids. Way to go!
This was also the first year since 1974 with no gun fatalities. The second year in history for that accomplishment, but there were 12 non-fatal accidents. Compare that to the days before Hunter Safety and there were 44 accidents per 100,000 hunters. At that rate there could have been over 2,600 accidents this past year…..what a change.
Congratulations to all who got their buck or doe and thanks to all who helped the Mentoring program and the Donate a Deer Program. You made a lot of folks happy with your generosity.
post by: Dan Bomkamp
If you're looking for your own private place to hunt, check out http://www.ruralpropertypro.com/ for hunting land properties for sale.
The Regular 9 day season is over. But if you’re a muzzle loader hunter you started last Monday and can hunt until Dec. 8. And then if you’re still not hunted out, you can participate in the Dec. 9 – 12 Antlerless hunt. Then it will finally be over. It seems like the Never-ending Story doesn’t it?
Early figures show a kill of just over 218,000 which is up 11% over last year.
There were 612,000 hunters who bought licenses for this past season. Of those, 11,000 were kids 10 and 11 who hunted under the Mentoring hunt. There were no gun accidents with any of the Mentored kids. Way to go!
This was also the first year since 1974 with no gun fatalities. The second year in history for that accomplishment, but there were 12 non-fatal accidents. Compare that to the days before Hunter Safety and there were 44 accidents per 100,000 hunters. At that rate there could have been over 2,600 accidents this past year…..what a change.
Congratulations to all who got their buck or doe and thanks to all who helped the Mentoring program and the Donate a Deer Program. You made a lot of folks happy with your generosity.
post by: Dan Bomkamp
If you're looking for your own private place to hunt, check out http://www.ruralpropertypro.com/ for hunting land properties for sale.
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