Wisconsin's aim to boost hunting and fishing participation. Step in the right direction?

MADISON, Wis. -- A bill designed to boost participation in hunting and fishing in Wisconsin by offering steep discounts to first-time license applicants has passed the Legislature's budget committee.

The Joint Finance Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to pass the measure. It now heads to the full Legislature for consideration.

The bill also creates a new task force to come up with ways to improve the recruitment of hunters, anglers and trappers.

Under the bill, license fees for first-time resident hunters would drop to $5. Depending on the type of license, those now cost between $7 and $24. Fees for non-resident hunters would also drop about 50 percent.

The measure also establishes a half-credit for high school students who complete a Department of Natural Resources hunter safety program.

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Sunday Squirrel Hunting

Went out early Sunday Morning with my Cousin Martin looking for squirrels and possibly a turkey. This is my cousin Martin's first year hunting so I figured the best way to teach someone how to hunt is by starting with bushy tails. Most of us learned how to hunt by still hunting and two stepping the woods for squirrels. Doesn't matter what you are hunting if you learn the basics of animal movements how to read the woods and understand bedding areas, feeding areas and travel corridors you will be successful. The section of woods we were hunting today is a large deep valley with mature hardwoods. This area is loaded with squirrels,rabbits/pheasants on the edges turkey and deer. Martin was getting the hang of things and walking at a good pace and taking a seat on a log or boulder and waiting a good 20-30 minutes before walking another 30 yards. Needless to say he is learning pretty fast! He got his limit of nice squirrels in about 2 hours of walking. Martin is still using a 12 gauge for now, but I am going to have him switch to a .22 here soon. I just want him to have some early success so he won't get too frustrated.
This trip was also a deer scouting trip for me and I found a new place to hang a stand. Deer sign everywhere! We also saw about 6-7 deer during the morning. The turkeys were only heard and not seen.

This weekend I will either pheasant or turkey hunt with the other option chasing some Coho's on the Lake Michigan Tribs.

Cougar confirmed in Juneau County, WI

Cougar captured on Trail Cam.

There has been rumors of a large cat or two roaming in the area.

DNR Surveying people who stopped trout fishing

The Wisconsin DNR has started surveying trout anglers that recent gave up the sport. The DNR is mailing out 800+ surveys to people who at one time were considered "Avid" trout fisherman or someone who purchased a trout stamp every year from 2004-2008. I am looking forward to seeing what the results say.

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Weekend Deer hunting

Well hunting season has officially started for me. This weekend I spent some time hunting for deer during the first gun deer hunt in Wisconsin this fall. This hunt is a antler-less only deer hunt. I went up and hunted in Richland County with two friends on about 450 acres of private hardwoods.
Saw a ton of wildlife sitting in the stand Saturday morning and also had two deer come right in before shooting light. Heard my buddy shoot from his stand about 300 yards away so I get down and start still hunting towards him. About 70 yards from my stand I jump 5 deer and I got one........... Of course it was the smallest one in the group.
Another friend of mine was out turkey hunting and got one in the afternoon and another friend shot one with his bow while deer hunting.

I couldn't hunt on Sunday, but the report back was both guys saw about 6-7 deer. Both were bow hunting today and the deer stayed out of range.

Can't wait for opening morning in November!! This was last years opener. I shot a big doe and basically helped recover and drag these bucks out the rest of the day. I have shot a deer 5 years in a row now (only been deer hunting for 5 years), but I haven't shot a buck since my first deer which was a big 8 pointer. Hopefully this year I can bag another buck!

Now it's time to turn to Turkeys, Pheasants and small game!

More than 50% of Wisconsin anglers caught a Muskie this year?

So much for the fish of 10,000 casts?


Now that the inland trout season as ended I focus my attention on hunting and fishing for Walleyes, Salmon, Pike and Muskies. I came a crossed this article saying that the fish of 10,000 casts has now become the fish of 3,000.