Every year around the end of January the Wisconsin DNR sends out a yellow postcard to inform all successful turkey hunting applicants that they have received a spring tag. The timing is good in that winter has a strong hold on us and that yellow card is a great reminder that better days are coming.

Fast forward to this time of year when I don’t really need a reminder of all the great things that are happening. Peak musky season is upon us, Colorado archery elk hunting is just around the corner as are all of the fall hunting seasons. Recently I discovered one more reason to get excited and I found it on Facebook.

Growing up in Mississippi River Bluff country my playground was vast and diverse. Hunting and fishing were the natural things to do because we really didn’t know any other way. I assumed that everyone else was doing those same things. I did enough trapping to sell a few hides and to say that I trapped but that was nothing compared to my friend Mike. He worked seasonally for a river rat and his duties included commercial fishing as well as running the trap lines. Because Mike paid close attention in those early days he is now known as one of the most accomplished trappers in the entire state of Wisconsin. In addition to that, he is my official trapping “sensei.” During the last couple of years, he has been my sounding board for trapping setups, potential locations, and all other trapping questions that popped into my head. 

So what’s the cause for my excitement? Mike posted a snippet from his personal DNR page that showed he had been awarded a fisher and bobcat tag for this coming season. Immediately my fingers raced to the same DNR site and Holy Jim Bridger, I too had been awarded the same two tags!   

It seems as if the trapping universe was aligning and everything was coming up DAVE. The next night a huge bobcat walked past one of my trail cameras. I have always marveled at how stealthy and resilient they are living competitively with coyotes, wolves, fishers, badgers, and other animals that all contend for the same food and space.

After Dave found out that he was receiving a bobcat tag, look what cruised by a trail camera.

I was elated about the DNR notice, especially about the bobcat tag. I’ve been through a couple of fisher seasons but I have never taken on a bobcat. I have a whole bunch of prep work to do to get ready for that season and the first order of business is to put “Sensei Mike” on speed dial. 

Didn’t get enough Dave this week? Visit “Outdoor Trails and Tales with Dave Beck” on Facebook for photos and video of Dave’s adventures. You can share your own photos and video with him there as well, or by emailing him at dave@piercecountyjournal.news Also, check out OTT content on Instagram @thepiercecountyjournal