Outdoors - Pierce County Journal

Tis the season for Wisconsin’s springtime gold, morel mushrooms. Don’t give your spot away to other hunters.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: The 411 on morels

Outdoor Tales and Trails Spring Forage Month continues. This week’s special guest? Clap your hands together and give a shout out for Wisconsin’s springtime gold: the morel … more

By Dave Beck | 5/15/24

Fiddleheads grown on the forest floor and taste like a cross between asparagus, broccoli, spinach and green beans. Their harvest window is tight; they are delicious when sauteed in butter or olive oil.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Fiddlehead hunting

Another season has slipped in just like a gentle rain. Actually, the rain has a lot to do with the new season: Spring forage season. My last round of intel, a fancy way to say that I … more

By Dave Beck | 5/8/24

CWD has been found in a Pierce County deer, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

DNR confirms CWD in wild deer in Pierce County

MADISON – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) confirms the first positive test result for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a wild deer in Pierce County. The deer was sick … more

5/8/24

If you find a fawn lying still and quiet, leave it alone, even if it appears sick or injured. Leave the area and do not go near the spot again.

Keep wildlife wild: Know what to do if you find a fawn

MADISON – Spring is baby animal season in Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds the public to leave fawns alone while they’re out exploring the … more

5/1/24

My first day out turkey hunting, I realized I had forgotten my turkey shotgun.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: The three jakes

It’s a great time of year: The weather worm has finally turned and best of all, spring turkey hunting is here! I had pretty good action on each hunt, except for the very first day which … more

By Dave Beck | 5/1/24

Outdoor Tales & Trails: A rookie mistake

It’s turkey hunting eve for me and I’m getting my gear ready in the hopes that the weather forecast is wrong. It’s supposed to rain, and not just a little, but a … more

By Dave Beck | 4/24/24

St. Croix Valley Foundation launches environmental grants

St. Croix Valley Foundation’s (SCVF) brand new Environmental Grants will support environmental education and the promotion, protection, and restoration of the natural resources and character of … more

4/24/24

While walking in the woods after the last snowfall, I came upon clues that a bird of prey had gotten its dinner.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: A scene in the snow

If a picture is worth a thousand words, I don’t have to add a single letter for this one. That being said, less is sometimes more and that’s why this week I am going to come in under … more

By Dave Beck | 4/17/24

I strapped on my waders to give otter and beaver trapping a try this winter.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: A late winter diversion

Before I jump ahead into the spring fishing and turkey hunting seasons I want to recap the trapping season, specifically beaver and otter. My trapping roots go back to a time and place a long … more

By Dave Beck | 4/10/24

Frying fish in the garage takes preparation and time but is well worth the wait.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Preparing for a fish fry

During the Easter season, a Friday night fish fry was mandatory, but over the years it turned into a simple pleasure. I even grew fond of my garage smelling like a Wisconsin supper club. … more

By Dave Beck | 4/3/24

Never try to care for a wild animal yourself. If you find a wild animal that appears sick or injured, leave it alone and keep children and pets away to reduce stress on the animal.

Keep wildlife wild: Know what to do if you encounter baby wild animals this spring

MADISON – As warmer spring weather approaches, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds the public that wild animals and their young will be on the move across … more

3/27/24

Even though this is the craziest shed hunting season I’ve experienced in 30 years, I found these a couple of days ago.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: A hard head

This has been the craziest shed antler hunting season I have ever experienced and that’s saying something since I found my first horn 30 years ago. There are several reasons for this being … more

By Dave Beck | 3/27/24

City of RF receives DNR Urban Forestry grant

MADISON – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced the second round of Urban Forestry Grant Program recipients for the 2024 grant year. The program helps fund projects … more

3/20/24

My strategy at the Muskie Expo each year is to walk the floor, note the hotspots, and return for a closer look at those that catch my eye.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: The ‘lure’ of musky baits

Before we slip too far away from the dock, I want to back up the boat a little and recap the Muskie Expo. Like every show I have been to, it was great and it was expensive. My defense is … more

By Dave Beck | 3/20/24

Swamp Runner II is back in action on the river after a makeover.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Swamp Runner II is back in action

A year or so ago there was a show on the Outdoor Channel called “Das Boat.” A quick internet search brought me to the conclusion that it was just another way to say “The … more

By Dave Beck | 3/13/24

In Spring 2023, flooding Mississippi River waters closed many streets in Bay City.

Upper Mississippi flooding unlikely after relatively dry winter

Unless thunderstorms dump rain on the Midwest in the coming months, there's little chance of spring flooding on the upper Mississippi River this year, forecasters say. That news is likely to … more

By Madeline Heim, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | 3/6/24

To figure out if spongy moths are on your property, look for their egg masses, which will look like tan-colored lumps about the size of a nickel or quarter.

DNR encourages property owners to make Spongy Moth treatment plans early

MADISON – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages property owners to examine their trees for spongy moth egg masses and determine whether control measures are … more

3/6/24

Justin Buchholtz of Menomonie is the owner and proprietor of Haymaker Lures. He will have a booth at the Minnesota Muskie Expo this coming weekend.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: MN Muskie Expo!

The Elmwood-Plum City Wolves defeated the Assumption Royals in Round 1 of the regional playoffs on Tuesday 74-72, but then were eliminated in overtime on Friday night by the Cochrane-Fountain City … more

By Dave Beck | 3/6/24

I thought this photo caught on my trout cam of a beaver sneaking up behind a raccoon would get thousands of views.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: What readers want

The plan when I started writing for the PCJ was to foster a partnership with online media and Facebook using it to drive business towards the “hold in your hand” newspaper as well as the … more

By Dave Beck | 2/28/24

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Trout cam captures visitors

My trout cam has caught some interesting visitors near my traps, such as a turkey, raccoons, coyotes and bucks. Last week was about river otters, how I graduated with a YouTube degree in otter … more

By Dave Beck | 2/21/24