Wisconsin
First-time turkey hunters take to Wisconsin woods
WASCOTT, Wis. — Breckin Bergquist had loads of firsts on a cool Saturday morning within the pine and oak nation of southern Douglas County.
It was his first time holding a loaded shotgun within the woods.
His first time studying to take a seat immobile within the predawn darkness, hopefully unseen and unheard by any wild turkey that could be close by.
His first time utilizing a slate name, within the woods, to imitate the comfortable yelps of a hen wild turkey, hoping to entice a tom turkey to come back into vary.
It was Bergquist’s first turkey hunt. It was his first time looking ever.
John Myers / Duluth Information Tribune
It was the primary time Bergquist, 13, heard a ruffed grouse drumming within the woods and sandhill cranes chortling off within the distance and the just-a-little-too-distant sound of tom turkeys gobbling because the solar neared rising.
He didn’t appear to thoughts the 19-degree chilly. Or the very fact his borrowed camouflage gloves had fingers 3 inches too lengthy for his still-growing palms.
The morning did not finish with what everybody concerned hoped could be Bergquist’s greatest “first”: his first tom turkey harvested. The birds have been just a bit too far-off. However there’ll possible be extra hunts for Bergquist sooner or later if his smiles after the primary one have been any indication.
“It was nice,” he mentioned.
Bergquist was considered one of 13 Douglas County ladies and boys, ages 10-16, to take part within the fifteenth Be taught to Hunt program sponsored by the
Gitchee Gumme Chapter of the Nationwide Wild Turkey Federation
. Kevin Feind, Bergquist’s mentor on this yr’s hunt, has been the coordinator of all 15 occasions.
John Myers / Duluth Information Tribune
Feind picked the spot, having seen turkeys within the space throughout current scouting journeys. He arrange the decoys and did the primary calling, then whispered to Bergquist by means of the teenager’s first makes an attempt at working a slate name throughout a hunt. You would inform boy had been working towards.
Feind is a turkey looking fanatic, with 34 turkey looking seasons behind him, the proper information for Bergquist’s first hunt. Bergquist was the proper instance of what the Be taught to Hunt program is all about — particularly getting youngsters who in any other case may not get the possibility to get out within the woods and expertise looking.
“I’ve been eager to go looking for a very long time. However nobody in my household actually hunts anymore, so I didn’t have anybody to go along with,” Bergquist mentioned.
Fortunately, his mom noticed a Fb put up saying the Be taught to Hunt program. “She was fairly nervous about it at first, about me going with individuals I didn’t know, with a loaded gun. … She watches out for me,” Bergquist mentioned. “However she mentioned ‘sure.’”
John Myers / Duluth Information Tribune
Throughout the Northland and nationally, the variety of hunters has been declining for years, slowly at first and now rather more quickly because the oldest child boomers start to age out of the outside and fewer younger hunters change them.
As society turns into extra city, with fewer connections to the outside and wildlife, there are fewer individuals with ties to buddies or household who hunt.
Different distractions and alternatives, from video video games, to workforce sports activities, to non-consumptive out of doors adventures like biking, take up enormous chunks of many youngsters’ time. Different potential hunters don’t have entry to gear, weapons or looking land.
However Feind and others concerned within the Be taught to Hunt program hope to not less than present them what they’re lacking, and the way to get began correctly, in the event that they wish to keep concerned. This yr, 4 of the 13 members bagged huge toms on the primary morning.
“It’s loads of work placing this on yearly. I’ll wager I’ve greater than 80 hours into it over the winter. We get loads of donations kind native companies, too,” mentioned Feind, who lately retired as a park ranger for the Wisconsin Division of Pure Assets. “Nevertheless it’s price it if you see the children’ reactions.”
John Myers / Duluth Information Tribune
Volunteer mentors Bob Butzler, Mark Nollet and Dan Schafter every acquired commemorative turkey calls this yr marking their participation in all 15 years of this system.
The Be taught to Hunt program is way over a weekend of looking. Individuals attended a four-hour seminar on turkey ecology, looking techniques, gear and security that was held two weeks earlier than the hunt. Then mentors and hunters gathered within the storage of the 4 Seasons Snowmobile Membership on Friday night earlier than the hunt. Many of the mentors and the entire members introduced their sleeping luggage, and native companies and others donated meals, so the children have been capable of expertise a real looking camp ambiance.
John Myers / Duluth Information Tribune
On Saturday night, the brand new hunters participated in a turkey-calling contest utilizing a commemorative, custom-engraved slate name from Luck Customized Calls that every participant acquired totally free.
“I’m simply glad we’re capable of do it once more,” Feind mentioned, noting COVID-19 precautions canceled the occasion in 2020 and 2021.
For Josh Huray, of Lake Nebagamon, this yr’s Be taught to Hunt program closed a life circle. Huray was a first-time turkey looking participant in this system at age 15. This yr, at 30, he was serving as a mentor and information.
Contributed / Gitchee Gumme Chapter, Nationwide Wild Turkey Federation
“I’ve hunted turkeys yearly since that first time,” Huray mentioned. “I adore it. … Something out within the woods and I’m good. To have the ability to sit on the market and have the woods come alive within the morning throughout you, that’s particular. … I like taking different individuals out and seeing their eyes gentle up once they hear that huge tom gobbling up shut. That’s virtually nearly as good as taking pictures one your self.”
Mentor and veteran hunter Dan Schafter, of Lake Nebagamon, agreed.
“Thirty years in the past, I had by no means even seen a wild turkey earlier than. Now, they’re in every single place,’’ Schafter mentioned. “I’ve had a lot enjoyable doing this … and perhaps we will move this on to some new youngsters.”
By the best way, all that working towards that Bergquist did on the slate turkey name paid off. He didn’t bag a turkey, however he did win the turkey-calling contest Saturday night and practically referred to as a fowl in Sunday morning.
Contributed / Kevin Feind
For extra data on the Superior-based Gitchee Gumme Chapter of the Nationwide Wild Turkey Federation and its Lean to Hunt program, contact Kevin Feind at
feindkevin@yahoo.com
.
John Myers stories on the outside, atmosphere and pure assets for the Duluth Information Tribune. He will be reached at
jmyers@duluthnews.com
.
Wisconsin
USC Trojans, Wisconsin Badgers Injury Update: Lake McRee, Akili Arnold, Makai Lemon, Tyler Van Dyke
The No. 13 USC Trojans will host the Wisconsin Badgers in their Big Ten conference home opener on Saturday, Sept. 28.
The game is a sell out and the stakes are high for the 2-1 Trojans, who will likely be missing a few key players due to injury.
USC quarterback Miller Moss and coach Lincoln Riley are looking to bounce back and make a statement that they belong in the College Football Playoff discussion after losing to the Michigan Wolverines in Week 4.
Wisconsin hopes to adjust after the Badgers lost their starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke to a season ending knee injury in their loss to Alabama. Quarterback Braedyn Locke will start in his place. The Badgers will also be without defensive lineman James Thompson Jr. – who is out for the season with an upper body injury.
What is the latest injury update on USC tight end Lake McRee, safety Akili Arnold and receiver Makai Lemon?
The good news on McRee’s injury is that it is not season-ending, as initially feared.
“Lake’s a great player,” said Riley. “Hate not to have him here right away but we’ll get him back soon.”
McRee went down with a knee injury after taking a low hit from Michigan cornerback Jyaire Hill in the third quarter last Saturday. McRee is expected to return at some point this season, but his status for Wisconsin is questionable.
The safety Arnold got banged up against Michigan but his availability looks promising.
“He’s been limited early this week, but hopeful to have him,” Riley said about Arnold’s availability for the game vs. Wisconsin Badgers.
A very scary moment in Week 4 – Lemon had to take an ambulance to the University of Michigan hospital after suffering an apparent head injury in the first quarter against the Wolverines. Lemon was injured on punt coverage, when he suffered a nasty hit. He was able to walk off the field but appeared shaken up.
“He’s doing good,” Riley said on Monday. “He’s rebounded back well, I think as good as you could possibly hope for with that scary of a situation… You obviously never want to see that. Thankfully bounced back well, was able to fly home with us that night and is doing very well.”
Lemon is a sophomore for USC and has four receptions for 45 yards and one touchdown in the Trojans’ first two games. Last season, Lemon played both wide receiver and cornerback. On offense, he recorded six receptions for 88 yards (14.7 avg.) with a long of 40 yards. He also recorded one tackle.
Every Big Ten team is required to submit an official injury report two hours before kickoff and the Trojans have a relatively clean bill of health as they enter the game vs. the Badgers.
Will update with the official report.
The Badgers face the tough task of defending Moss and his offensive weapons. Moss is off to a hot start, throwing for 890 yards, five touchdowns and just one pick through three games. Moss leads a USC passing offense that ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten Conference (318.7). Keep an eye on running back Woody Marks, who has 271 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.
HOW TO WATCH
USC will host the Wisconsin Badgers in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at 12:30 p.m. PT. on Saturday, September 28th. The TV broadcast will be on CBS.
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Wisconsin
Fans run for exits after off-duty security guard accidentally shoots himself at Wisconsin Lutheran football game, officials say
An off-duty security guard accidentally shot himself at a Wisconsin Lutheran High School football game Friday night, sending the players and fans running for the exits, the school said in a statement.
The guard, who is not affiliated with the school, received medical attention and his injuries are not life-threatening, according to school officials.
Milwaukee police didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment late Friday night. The incident took place at Zeitler Stadium, which is just south of the school located near North 84th Street and West Bluemound Road.
The finish of the game, between Wisconsin Lutheran and Milwaukee Lutheran, was called off as a result of the incident. Wisconsin Luthern was leading 42-0 at the time.
WISN-TV cameras were rolling at the football game when the incident took place. Following the “pop” sound, players on the field immediately ran for cover while students and parents in the stands scrambled for the exits.
The PA announcer can be heard saying, “Everybody hold tight.”
The school said it would be reviewing safety protocols. “We pride ourselves on maintaining a safe environment for our students and all who are involved with our football program,” the statement states.
About a year ago, shots erupted at a Milwaukee Lutheran football game against Pius XI Catholic, similarly sending people running for cover. No one was injured in the incident.
Zac Bellman contributed to this report.
Tundra swans congregate at the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
Tundra swans and other waterfowl gather on the Mississippi River between Stoddard, Wis. and Brownsville, Minn.In a half-mile stretch of the river, several thousand tundra swans congregate while on their migration south from Alaska and northern Canada
Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
A high-voltage transmission line carrying clean power from Iowa to Wisconsin overcame lengthy environmental pushback to enter service this week, some 13 years after grid operators approved the project, developers said Friday.
The Cardinal-Hickory Creek 345,000-volt transmission line, which ships clean power from Iowa to Wisconsin, came to exemplify the struggles of constructing U.S. power lines at a time of swiftly rising electricity demand. Environmental groups had sued to stop it from traversing the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge near Cassville, Wisconsin, north of Dubuque.
“Following years of work, including numerous opportunities for public input, extensive regulatory and environmental review, and construction, the entire Cardinal-Hickory Creek line has been placed in service,” said Dusky Terry, president of the line’s co-owner ITC Midwest. ATC and Dairyland Power Cooperative also are partial owners of the 102-mile project.
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As of June, 160 renewable generation projects in the upper Midwestern states totaling nearly 25 gigawatts of capacity were dependent upon completion of the Cardinal-Hickory Creek line, the co-owners said.
The Biden administration applauded the completion of the line and lauded it as a crucial step towards bringing clean power to the Midwest.
“It takes perseverance to build the infrastructure we need and the Cardinal Hickory Creek Project proves that we can get the job done by bringing clean, affordable power to Wisconsin and Iowa,” said John Podesta, senior advisor to President Joe Biden for international climate policy.
In May, a U.S. appeals court lifted a lower court’s order blocking a land exchange needed before developers could build the final stretch of the major clean-energy transmission line through the wildlife refuge.
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