Vernon Marsh Canadian Geese; No match for Weston Zens
Weston Zens, 12, poses with his English Cocker Spaniel, Roley, and three Canada geese harvested in the Vernon Marsh on September 13, 2026. Hunting alongside his father, Michael Zens Jr., during the season’s first strong north wind, Weston used his 20-gauge shotgun to take all three birds, including a double. He also took the lead […]
Wisconsin’s Early Teal Season; Priming the pump of optimism
The 2026, Wisconsin Early Teal Season opened on Tuesday, September 1st, and ran through Wednesday, September 9th, with a daily bag limit of 6 birds. The season gives Wisconsin hunters an opportunity to shoot teal before they migrate, and before the regular duck season opens on September 26th in the northern zone. The Wisconsin hunt […]
North Dakota’s Western Edge; Everything to pull you back again
So different than the flat prairie we hadbeen hunting, a high plateau cappedwith a sloping checkerboard cover ofgreen crops and brown grassland reachedto the North Dakota skies and begged forattention. With our Wisconsin huntingpartners spread out over miles huntingpheasants and sharpies elsewhere, John Ellisand I headed up with rookie Shiloh, a oneyearold cross of Golden […]
After The Shot: Recovering Your Bear
Months of baiting and preparationcan come down to a few secondswhen a bear finally steps in.Making a good shot is important, butknowing what to do afterward can be justas critical. From reading the bear’s reactionto getting several hundred pounds ofdead weight out of the woods, recoveringa bear presents challenges different fromrecovering a deer.Shot Placement Shot […]
A Deer Hunter’s Dues; Three years for thirty seconds
If you’ve spent enough falls hunting inthe Hayward area, you know one thingfor certain: the woods don’t owe youanything.Every season begins with hope. Trailcameras are checked, stands are hung, gearis organized, and opening morning feels likeChristmas. But not every season ends witha filled tag. Sometimes it’s a close encounter.Sometimes it’s a missed opportunity.Sometimes it’s a […]
Simple Bear Necessities; Guide turns hunter as quest to fill first tag continues
It’s been a bittersweet ride. I can’t believethe Wisconsin bear hunt is alreadyupon us with the season opener firstfor hunters over bait like me Wednesday,September 9. With an alternating system ofhunting first, hound hunters this year begina week later.I’ve been out of the game of guiding bearhunters for a decade. Over 16 years guiding20 to […]
Jack the Mule after being killed by wolves
The photo above was taken after Jack the Mule was killed by wolves.
When Wolves Kill
Photos Are Not for Everyone OWO Publishers’ Note Our cover photo for the On Wisconsin Outdoors July-August issue has tiny five-year old Hayden kissing her 1300-pound buddy, Jack the Mule. The interior story graphically details the end of Jack by wolves in the family pasture. When wolves kill…deer, livestock, beavers, pets or hunting dogs, it […]
Long Range Planning at the DNR
Periodically, the Wisconsin DNR surveys Wisconsin residents concerning its long-range plans for resource management. For example, a 10-year plan for fish management. These surveys don’t serve the general public very well, and here’s why: When the DNR wants to make a plan, (let’s say a fishery management plan), the first thing they do is convene […]
Bad Endings
Irresponsible wolf protection, high numbers, fearless predators That’s five-year old Hayden kissing her close friend, Jack, on our July-August cover posted at www.onwisconsinoutdoors.com and circulated in print across Wisconsin. Good things end, we know, but the ending shouldn’t come like this for two mules that were nothing less than part of the family. Jack was […]