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9
Official Magazine of SCI Chapters in Wisconsin
January/February 2015
You’re Invited to SCI Events
Loaner Guns Create New Hunters
Deer Hunt WI TV Promotes Hunting
Hunt Reports: Mtn. Goat, Deer & More
Conservation, Education, Humanitarian and Legislative News
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
1
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of experience with Jeff at Bucky’s has you covered!
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For over thirty years, Bucky’s Taxidermy has been dedicated to providing clients with expertly-crafted
detailed mounts and replicas. Our Master Taxidermist, Jeff Knapp, is an award-winning and renowned
artist, bringing your harvest to life with an excellent eye for the smallest details of each animals’ physiology. Bucky’s Taxidermy has mounted world record holding animals and uses his expert technique to
preserve everything from African big game to freshwater fish. Whether its a full-size elephant or your first
buck, our Master Taxidermist approaches each project with the same operating principle of turning out
life-like results to your specifications in a timely manner.
Jeff Knapp’s beautiful and detailed craftsmanship is among the best in the world. His experience and
respect for the nature of each animal he encounters allow him to create the finest trophies that will
provide you with a lifetime of memories. A life-long sportsman, Jeff knows the time and money we invest
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own. Let Jeff create a beautiful work of art for your trophy room, contact Bucky’s Taxidermy today and
experience the work of the finest master taxidermist.
2 2
WI SCI HUNTERS
- January/February
2015
WI SCI HUNTERS
- November/December
2012
Conveniently Located on Interstate 94
between Milwaukee and Madison
N13 W28400 Silvernail Road , Pewaukee, WI • 262-547-0535 • www.buckrubarchery.com
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
3
We Support SCI
5% Discount to
SCI members
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made in America or they
won’t be made at all.”
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President of Henry Repeating Arms
Henry .22 Lever Frontier Model with Octagonal Barrel.
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We start with only the finest ingredients - gun barrel
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We are a family owned business and we stand behind
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WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
For a FREE color catalog
and Henry decal
visit www.henryrifles.com
or call Toll Free (866) 200-2354
'PMMPXVT
5
looking for a new taxidermist?
Join today!
New members and their families are
always welcome at SCI. Visit these
websites and join a chapter to start
your adventure. Members enjoy great
fun, meet new friends, make a difference in their community and help the
future of hunting, plus you will discover
new deals and opportunities that
improve your hunting skill and enjoyment. We invite you to join online
today.
Badgerland
President Tom Fisher
www.scibadgerland.com
‡VLFNRIQRWJHWWLQJ\RXUZRUNEDFN"
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For over 25 years, Northwoods Taxidermy of Waukesha has been
quietly producing quality work at a fair price with a reasonable return
time. If you’re looking for a new taxidermist, contact Dan Trawicki at
Northwoods Taxidermy. Custom and standard big-game taxidermy is
our speciality. Multiple award winner/Best of Show People’s Choice.
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HUNTERS
SCI Chapters
in Wisconsin
welcome you
Lake Superior
President Dale Bruder
www.sci-lakesuperior.com
Northeast Wisconsin
President Calvin Ort
www.scihunterexpo.com
Southeast Wisconsin Bowhunters
President Mike Pjevach
www.scibowhunters.com
Wisconsin
President MIchael Betters
mbetters@bettersandassociates.com
SCI Region 16 Representative
Dale Bruder
dalebrigitte@centurytel.net
Official Magazine of SCI Chapters in Wisconsin
Editor/Publishers: Mark & Coni LaBarbera
HUNTERS is a bimonthly publication for
members of SCI chapters in Wisconsin,
plus bonus electronic circulation, which
includes some of the world’s most avid
and affluent conservationists who enjoy
hunting here and around the world. They
have earned a reputation of leadership on
natural resources issues and giving to protect and support the future of hunting and
conservation here and abroad. To share
your message with them, send ads and
editorial submissions to Mark LaBarbera at
wiscimag@peoplepc.com.
January/February 2015
On the cover: Scott Hansen’s dream buck became reality at Sandy Hill Ranch,
Wautoma, with Bob and Anita Daggett.
In this issue:
8
Wisconsin Chapter Report by President Michael Betters
8
News from Hunt Chairman David Bahl, Jr.
10 Northeast Wisconsin Chapter Report by President Calvin Ort
10 Southeast Wisconsin
Bowhunters Chapter Report
by President Mike Pjevach
14 Lake Superior Chapter Report
by President Dale Bruder
Submission of story and photos means that
you are giving SCI permission to use them
free in SCI printed or electronic form.
Issue
January/February
March/April
May/June
July/August
September/October
November/December
Deadline__
November 20
January 20
March 20
May 20
July 20
September 20
New Advertisers
The number of advertisers allowed in WI
SCI HUNTERS magazine is limited. If you
would like your ad to be considered for
publication, contact Mark at wiscimag@
peoplepc.com. New advertisers who are
accepted and prepay for a 6x schedule
receive substantial discounts as listed
below. All amounts are net U.S. dollars.
Ad
1x
6x Total
Size
Size
Rate (Prepaid)
1/4 Pg.
3.5”w x 5.25”h $150 $600/yr.
1/2 Pg.
8.25”w x 4.75”h $200 $800/yr.
Full Pg.
8.25”w x 10.75”h $250 $1,100/yr.
Covers
8.25”w x 10.75”h $300 $1,300/yr.
Deliver ads with ½” margin on four sides,
plus ¼” for bleeds.
Send ad fees to Treasurer Gary Knaack,
4005 Towne Lake Circle #10209,
Appleton, WI 54911. No attempt is made to
verify the accuracy of ballistic information
or hunt reports submitted. Ads in this publication are not considered endorsements or
approval of such advertiser by Safari Club
International.
14 Hunt Report: Elk by Don Osborne
15 Badgerland Chapter Report by President Tom Fisher
18 Humanitarian Hunt Report: ACCES-SCI-BILITY
by Mark LaBarbera
19 Hunt Report: Dylan’s First by Gary Knaack
19 “Deer Hunt Wisconsin” TV
Promotes Hunting
20 Hunt Report: He Died, But Now He Hunts
by Mark LaBarbera
24 Loaner Guns Create Hunters:
My Learn to Hunt Experience by Dawn Ziolecki
26 Hunt Report: Alaska Mtn. Goat Adventure
by Steve Taylor
28 9’ Grizzly at 9 Feet! by Jeffery Belongia
30 Elephant Ban
32 LaBarbera Added to Advisory Team
34 Great Gear: Caldwell Deadshot ChairPod,
Bog Tac-3 Tripod
34 Alpen Optics Supports Youth Efforts
36 Legislative Update by Bob Welch
36 Donated Mounts at Home at “The Range”
38 Legislator Profile: Rep. Al Ott Embraces
Sporting Heritage
Wisconsin Chapter Report
by Michael Betters, President
Hopefully everyone had a safe, fun and
successful hunting season. Now I’m
sure you are all enjoying the holidays and
spending time with family and friends.
Hopefully you take time to enjoy all of
them.
We are now moving to the banquet
season for all of the state chapters. We
have been hard at work for several
months now getting ready not only for
our annual Grand Banquet at the
Olympia Resort on March 6 & 7, 2015 but
also our second annual Whitetail Night
on January 10, 2015, also at the Olympia
Resort. I look forward to seeing many of
you at these events. Please check our
website for the details on both at www.
sciwi.org.
If you or someone you know, especially a child, was successful this year
why not bring them and their trophy to
our Whitetail Night event? I think you will
really enjoy it! Awards for all successful
children, plus the largest trophies taken
in-state, out-of-state, etc. will be given.
You can now register for the entire
Grand Banquet on the website; event
tickets, raffle tickets, donations and
more! Check it out! I think you will be
pleased with how easy we have made it
for you. We are trying something new
this year at our Grand Banquet. On
Saturday night: we are planning to have
a DJ perform after the auction is over.
This way you can relax, visit and perhaps
have a few drinks with your friends. The
details are still being worked out but plan
on staying after the auction for some fun!
Lastly, I want to give a special thank
you to a long-time chapter member, Rick
Rollo. Rick once again hosted the Big Al
Shoot in honor of his father Eldridge, with
Save The Date . . .
FRIDAY NIGHT
$25 PER PERSON
the net proceeds of the event coming
directly to SCI-Wisconsin Chapter.
These funds are used to provide hunting
or fishing trips for physically challenged
or terminally ill, children, adults or veterans so they too may enjoy the great outdoors. Over the years many people have
benefited from Rick’s efforts and I just
want to say thank you Rick from SCI!
Join like your way of life depends on it!
News from Hunt Chairman David Bahl, Jr.
Well, with two months to go before our banquet, the hunt committee and I are hard at work to
put together the quality hunt line-up that SCI WI Chapter members are used to! We have big shoes
to fill with John Kubichek and Mark Beaudin passing responsibility for hunt donations to the committee. Our new www.sciwi.org site offers nice advantages of displaying and advertising our
growing hunt line-up. Please take a moment to check it out! From the Rocky Mtns. to New
Zealand, Africa to Wisconsin, we are compiling a variety of exciting adventures. So mark your
calendars to attend your “Top Gun” award-winning banquet “fun” raiser on March 6 & 7, 2015!
38TH ANNUAL
BIG GAME HUNTERS
'RAND"ANQUET
March 6 & 7, 2015
YOUTH
(16 & under)
$10 (ON FRIDAY)
SATURDAY FORMAL
$85 PER PERSON
ATTEND BOTH NIGHTS
$100 PER PERSON
Olympia Resort, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
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OUTDOOR
.EWTHISYEARregister online!
AD V E N TU R E S
www.sciwi.org
AND
TA X I D E R M Y
ST U D I O S
262-443-3102
www.trudelloutdooradventures.com
-EET4HE/UTlTTERSs,IVE!UCTIONS
3EMINARSs2AFmESs"OOTH3PACES
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8
SCI Wisconsin Chapter
Questions?
Banquet Chairman
Banquet Co-Chair
Booth Rental
Hunt Chairman
Donations
Other Information
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
Michael Betters
Matt Yunk
Steve Van Lieshout
David Bahl Jr
Mike Wettstein
Janean Gehl
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
414-630-6835
262-617-3502
262-751-6906
262-349-2866
414-702-2533
262-437-0097
mbetters@bettersandassociates.com
mattyunk7@gmail.com
steve@kstechonline.com
dv.bahl@weldallmfg.com
mwettstein@wi.rr.com
office@sciwi.org
9
Northeast Wisconsin Chapter Report
by Calvin Ort, President
By the time you receive this issue the
deer gun season will be in the books. I
hope everyone had a successful and
safe hunt this season! The holiday season is also gone. I hope everyone had
an enjoyable and relaxing holiday
season.
We are preparing diligently for Expo
2015, which will be Feb. 27- 28, 2015 at
Stadium View in Green Bay. This year
we are teamed up with the Wisconsin
State Hunting Expo the same weekend,
Feb. 27, 28 & March 1 at Shopko Hall.
We are moving our exhibitors down
there in an attempt to make a bigger
banquet and receive better hunt donations in exchange for more foot traffic
which will enable the outfitters to have
more chances at booking clients. With
your paid banquet ticket and registering
at Stadium View, you will be given a free
ticket to attend the Wisconsin Hunter
Expo. We will provide shuttle service
back and forth from noon to 6:00 pm on
Saturday.
Friday evening at 7:30 pm at Stadium
View we will have an appreciation Tail
Gate Party with the outfitters, along with
some raffles and fun. This is a great time
and place to talk to the outfitters about
the donation hunts on Saturday! The
cost is $15 a person and includes free
beer and soda. Saturday the doors
will open at noon and the banquet floor
will open at 3:30 with dinner at 6:00 pm.
We have a great hunt line up for our Live
Auction. Some of our top hunts are
included in this magazine. Please check
our website w w w.scihunterexpo.
com often, as our Web Master Mark
Snyder makes changes almost on a
daily basis on the Hunts & Merchandise
we have receive for the Expo. Please
reserve your banquet tickets early this
year! We have limited seating and with
only a one-night auction I expect a sell
out! Remember we have assigned seating. So if you want to sit with some one
please let Betsy know when you pre-order your banquet tickets!
Remember these banquets are fundraisers. Bid often and bid high on these
hunts. Most every hunt goes much
cheaper than full price, so you are
getting a great discounted hunt.
Remember the proceeds further the
chapter’s mission to protect and promote hunting in the state and local
communities.
If it wasn’t for SCI, look how many
teachers wouldn’t know the truth about
hunting and the role it plays in conservation, and the thousands of kids who
would be misinformed. How many people wouldn’t have eaten due to canned
food drives and feed the needy meals or
received venison donated by hunters.
Ope
n to
Safari Club International
Wisconsin Chapter
Look how your deer gun hunting would
be. It would be the same as prior years
with out people in Madison pushing for
reform to deer management. There
would have been no gun case law
repealed, no youth mentoring bill, or
access to new public land for hunting.
These are just some of the things SCI
does for you. The more money we make
the more we can do! Please help all the
chapters in this fund raising season to
keep SCI strong in the state of
Wisconsin!
I am happy to announce that the Board
of the SE WI Bowhunters Chapter
recently voted to once again support the
Midwest Outdoor Heritage Education
Expo! SCI member and HUNTER magazine editor & publisher Mark LaBarbera,
did a fabtastic job in putting on this very
successful event, and we are proud to
have been the catalyst to get SCI
involved. The outlook for the 2015 event
is even brighter with an anticipated large
increase in attendance and nothing but
rave reviews from the students and their
teachers. This event cannot go on without the support of the sporting groups,
and the Bowhunters Chapter members
are proud to be part of it.
A reminder for a couple of our
upcoming events: Our Wild Game
10
Dinner will be February 12, 2015. This
event features some of the finest wild
game appetizers I have had, and that
sentiment is echoed by all who have
attended this event in the past. It is a
casual night of fine food, camaraderie
and the chance to win prizes, all while
benefitting the efforts of SCI.
The other date to remember is June
11, 2015. This is the date of our Annual
Banquet. Featuring great food, raffles
and auction, this is another great way to
spend an evening with like-minded people. Both of these events are held at
Weissgerber’s Golden Mast restaurant
in Okauchee, WI. Please visit our website, www.sciwibowhunters.org, for
details.
Lastly, we once again are joining
forces with the WI Chapter to sponsor
Pub
lic
Safari Club International
Southeast Wisconsin Bow-Hunters Chapter
Saturday, January 10, 2015
at Olympia Resort in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
COME SEE SOME OF THE BIGGEST WHITETAILS OF THE SEASON
Adults $10
when registered by
December 30, 2014
$15 at the door
Southeast Wisconsin Bowhunters Report
by Mike Pjevach, President
the
Youth - Free
ages 15 and under
Bring your rack from the 2014 season
and get it officially scored (FREE!),
plus get in the free gun drawing.
Youth hunters (15 & under)
can also get in the drawing
with a photo of a doe taken by them.
Awards for:
Youth Hunters & Top Bucks taken
in many categories: in state/out of state.
(no membership requirement)
Free membership awarded to adult winners
“Whitetail Night,” an inexpensive way to
spend a cold Saturday evening with
your fellow deer hunters. With official
measurers on hand, bring in your 2014
deer rack to be officially scored and to
be entered in the free gun drawing. This
is a great event to bring your kids to!
Lastly, I wish all my fellow SCI members a Merry Christmas and all the best
for the New Year!
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
for more information, contact:
REGISTRATION STARTS AT 4PM
JANEAN GEHL
ANTLERS TO BE SCORED MUST BE THERE BY 6PM.
(262) 437-0097
OFFICE@SCIWI.ORG
WWW.SCIWI.ORG
PRICE INCLUDES FOOD & SODA. CASH BAR.
SPONSOR: SCI WISCONSIN CHAPTER, SCI SE WI BOW HUNTERS CHAPTER, AND WISCONSIN BUCK & BEAR CLUB
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
11
Safari Club International
Safari Club International
Northeast Wisconsin Chapter
Northeast Wisconsin Chapter
17th Annual Hunters’ Banquet
17th Annual Hunters’ Banquet
February 27 & 28, 2015
To be held at Stadium View Bar and Grill, Green Bay, WI
February 28, 2015
SATURDAY NIGHT AUCTION PREVIEW
“NORTH AMERICA”
NEW MEXICO ELK HUNT
MONTANA MULE DEER HUNT
FLORIDA ALLIGATOR HUNT
NEBRASKA BOBCAT HUNT
KANSAS WHITETAIL HUNT
ALBERTA MOOSE HUNT
WISCONSIN FALLOW DEER HUNT
MANITOBA BLACK BEAR HUNT
LAKE MICHIGAN FISHING CHARTER
WISCONSIN WHITETAIL HUNTS
WISCONSIN PHEASANT HUNT
QUEBEC BEAR HUNT
MEXICAN DOVE, DUCK & TURKEY HUNTS
“AFRICA”
NAMIBIAN LEOPARD SAFARI
SOUTH AFRICAN LIONESS SAFARI
AFRICAN PLAINS GAME SAFARIS
AFRICAN PHOTO SAFARI
“MERCHANDISE”
WILDLIFE PRINTS
LADIES JEWELRY
Item
“SOUTH AMERICA”
ARGENTINA DOVE HUNT
ARGINTIN BIG GAMEHUNT
“EUROPE”
EUROPEAN BIG GAME HUNT
SCOTTISH ROE DEER
and RED STAG HUNTS
SPANISH BIG GAME HUNTS
x
Cost
Friday Outfitters’ Tailgate Party
$15 each
Saturday Dinner Ticket plus 1 pass to the Wisconsin State
Hunting Expo ($58 Total Value)
$50 each
Saturday Dinner Table - 8 Dinner Tickets plus 8 passes to
the Wisconsin State Hunting Expo ($464 Total Value)
$350 each
Total Amount
I am unable to attend this event but keep me on the mailing list.
Here is my donation to assist you in your fundraising efforts.
GRAND TOTAL
Must register at Stadium View to receive your Wisconsin State Hunting Expo Pass.
Saturday Dinner Tables must be paid with 1 check.
Dinner Tickets will be available for pickup @ the Registration Booth both nights.
Raffle Ticket Packages and Chapter Rifle Raffle Tickets will be available at the event!!!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!
Contact Betsy Wandtke at 920-385-7252 or e-mail BetsyWandtke@gmail.com if interested.
We are extremely excited about this year’s Expo. We have teamed up with the
WISCONSIN STATE HUNTING EXPO at Shopko Hall in Green Bay, WI.
We will now have all of our outfitters and vendors located at the Wisconsin
State Hunting Expo in Shopko Hall.
Bring in your trophies, there will be OFFICAL SCI MEASURERS at the Wisconsin
State Hunting Expo in Shopko Hall all weekend to measure your trophies.
BUCKET RAFFLES TO INCLUDE:
Firearms from Remington, Savage, Weatherby, Beretta, Smith & Wesson, Browning and Winchester.
“2015 CHAPTER RIFLE”
This year’s Chapter Rifle will be a Sako Finnlight from Sako Finland, chambered in a .270WSM
and topped off with a Zeiss Conquest HD5 3.5-15X42with a Z-Plex reticle.
Tickets: 1 for $10.00, 3 for $20.00 or 10 for $50.00
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT OUR WESITE WWW.SCIHUNTEREXPO.COM
12
Quantity
“SOUTH PACIFIC”
NEW ZEALAND RED STAG HUNT
February 27 – March 1, 2015 at Shopko Hall
x
SEATING WILL BE LIMITED – MAKE YOUR RESERVATION EARLY!
SATURDAY NIGHT DINNER WILL BE ASSIGNED SEATING.
Hunter Expo 2015
x
Ticket Reservation Form
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
Name: (Please Print)__________________________________________________________
Street Address:______________________________________________________________
City:_____________________________________________State:________Zip: _________
Phone:_____________________________E-Mail: __________________________________
Payment by:
‰ Check
‰ MasterCard
‰ Visa
‰ Discover
‰ Am Express
Credit Card Number:_____________________________ Expiration Date:_______________
Signature:__________________________________________________________________
Make checks payable to “NEWISCI Chapter”
Return Registration Form to:
Safari Club International – Northeast Wisconsin Chapter
Attn: Gary Knaack - 4005 Towne Lakes Circle #10209 - Appleton, WI 54913
Call 920-427-3976 or Visit www.scihunterexpo.com for more information.
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
13
Badgerland
Chapter Report
Lake Superior
Chapter Report
by Dale Bruder, President
The Lake Superior Chapter wants to
wish all of our members and vendors a
very Merry Christmas and a Happy New
Year. Your chapter board members and
banquet committee members, like all
Wisconsin chapters have been busy
working on the upcoming banquet season. If possible, please attend multiple
banquets as we all are working for the
SCI
rights and making sure that hunting as
we know it will be available for our children and grandchildren. We also hope that everyone had a
safe and productive deer season. I have
been your President for nine years and
your Banquet Chairman for 10 years. I
can honestly tell you that I am more
excited about the upcoming banquet
than ever before. With Ron Schara
RAFFLE
Lake Superior Chapter
Try Your
Chance to
Win
The Moose Hunt
of a Lifetime
with
The Yukon Hunt Takes Place in the Fall of 2016
Drawing April
11,
2015
Hinckley Spring Banquet
$100.00 / Ticket
Only 300 Tickets Sold
Contact:
John Schmit for Tickets / Info
PH: 651-764-3609
by Tom Fisher, President
on Saturday night, you are absolutely
being treated to the best entertainment
of our 17 years. We have added four
more gun raffles and several other miscellaneous item raffles to give everyone
a better chance of winning something. The food will be better than ever and we
will have 80 vendors for you to talk to
and look over. The taxidermy display will
be our biggest ever as we have added
two more local taxidermists to our
group. We also have a new online registration ability for your convenience. We
will sell out on Saturday night, so buy
your tickets early to assure yourself a
place to become part of the biggest and
best hunting and fishing event in the
Midwest. Remember to support our
youth – they are the future of hunting. 14
in the Wisconsin Dells on Friday,
March 27 and Saturday, March
28. Friday night will feature “Youth
Night”, and there will be a large
number of exhibitors both days. We will have some games for
everyone, silent auctions, and over
80 auction items, and at least 40
firearms, crossbows and knives. One of the auction items for our
Saturday night program, which I
would like to highlight, is the Young
Adult African Apprenticeship, donated
by African PH Derick van Staden of
Stormberg Elangeni Safaris. This is an
apprenticeship for one young adult, age
18 to 25 years of age, for up to 21 days
during the summer of 2015. It will take
place in the S.E. camps of South Africa.
The winner of this auction item will work
closely with the PH staff, with paying clients who are on Safari, and will learn
hunting skills, trophy judging, trophy
preparation, costumer service and
more. They may be able to take cull or
non-trophy animals, or pay for one or
two trophy animals while they are in
camp. I was fortunate to spend ten
days in one of the S.E. hunting camps
this last June, and it was a great experience that I shared with this year’s
apprentice, Jake.
In closing, I hope that all of you have
had a great hunting season, and very
happy holidays.
Hunt Report: WY Elk
by Don Osborne
Hunting bull elk in the Bridger National
Forest out of Afton, Wyoming with
Salt River Range Outfitters, I shot this
6-by-7 bull on Oct. 30, 2014 at daybreak with rifle. This was a great hunt
with the best, hardest working guides
I can imagine, equipped with the best
optics for finding elk, and the best
horses for getting there. Lots of hiking
and climbing through these rugged
snowy mountaintops once the horses
got you to
the backcountry. It
was a 100%
great hunt in
every way.
HUNTING
WORKSS
BECOME A PA
P RTNER TODAY!
If you believe hunting and the shooting sports play a vital role in Wisconsin’s economy,
we’d love to have you as a partner. Becoming a partner is easy and absolutely free.
HUNTING CREATES A
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ON WISCONSIN’S ECONOMY
Please visit our website for more information, a complete list of partners and to learn how you can help tell the
story of hunting’s positive effects on jobs, the economy and conservation in Wisconsin.
Sponsored By
E-Mail: buckstaxidermy@hotmail.com
same goal: Protection of our hunting
‘Tis the season to relax a little, and to
look forward to the various SCI chapter
events which are being held around the
State. The hunting seasons are winding
down, or are already over. There are
undoubtly a lot of stories and photos
which reflect the adventures which we
all have had over the last few months. There are new friendships which we’ve
made in hunting camps, and new
opportunities which we’ve discovered
thru those adventures and friendships. There are probably a few shots, also,
which we can recall and wish we could
pull back - but that is why they call it
“hunting,” not “getting.” But I hope that
it was all a lot of fun and some great
adventures and companionship for
everyone.
SCI Badgerland is in the process of
planning for it’s Hunters’ Expo which
will again be held at the Kalahari Resort
/HuntingWorksForWI
H UNTING W ORKS F OR WI. COM
@HuntingWorks4WI
coming on Friday night and Sarah Palin
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
15
BADGERLAND
HUNTER
EXPO
Friday
March 27, 2015
YOUTH NIGHT!
Special Door Prizes
Doors Open 3pm
Adult Door prizes
Dining at 7pm
Live Auction 8pm
Adults $45
17 & under $35
80 ticket raffle &
125 ticket raffle packs
available for pre-order
2015
March 27/28
Two Days & Nights!
Outfitter’s from around the
World
Trophy Competition
Live Auctions
Friday night is Youth Night!
We will be presenting hunts from across the
globe again. Larger space for many more
Exhibitors & Outfitters…
Many gun boards, Handgun board, Crossbow
board, 40 guns, Jewelry board, Booze raffle, cash
raffle
Trophy Competition
Bring in your trophies for the Trophy competition. First place in each category will be
awarded on Saturday night.
Auction Highlights:
Youth Apprenticeship with Stromberg
Vortex Optics
Black Bear hunt in Quebec (2015 or 2016)
Beach Vacation at Cerritos Beach in Baja, Mexico
16
Buffet feast both
nights!
Make your reservations now!
www.scibadgerland.com
HUNTER EXPO 2015 ORDER FORM
March 27/28 - 2015
Saturday
March 28, 2015
www.scibadgerland.com
Great Door Prizes
Doors open 10am
Dining at 7pm
Live Auction 8pm
Adult $50
17 & Under $40
Raffle Packs Same
As Friday
Item
Friday Dinner Tickets (March 27)
Friday Youth Tickets (For Young people 17 & Under)
For special Room Rate
Reservations:
(877) 525-2427
www.kalahariresorts.com
Exhibitors/Outfitters
Contact Tom Fisher or
www.scibadgerland.com
We have a huge space for
new folks...
Cost
Total Dollar Amount
(Quantity x Cost)
$45
$35
Saturday Dinner Tickets (March 28)
Saturday Youth Tickets (For Young people 17 & Under)
$50
$40
$150
$200
80 Ticket Raffle Pack ($1.88/ticket)
125 Ticket Raffle Pack ($1.60/ticket)
Sponsorship – Each sponsor gets 1 dinner ticket and a chance in a
raffle for a firearm (Please indicate night that you want the dinner)
This venue is just off the
Interstate. It is down the road
from Ho Chunk for the gamblers & close to many budget
motels…
Number
Of tickets
Fri
Sat
$150
$
Grand Total
If you order 8 dinner tickets, we will reserve a table for you. Please enter the name that you would like the table
reserved under.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Pick up your raffle tickets at the event. NO RAFFLE TICKETS will be mailed. Dinner Tickets will also be
held for you at Kalahari. We will mail a post card confirming your order for orders received more than one
week in advance.
For mail orders, please complete and mail to the address below or you may phone (888) 478-4747.
Name ____________________________________________________________________________________
Street Address _____________________________________________________________________________
Firearm door prize each
night. Everyone who
purchases a dinner
ticket is eligible!
Hunt in Spain for an Iberian Mouflon sheep or
an Iberian Red Deer
South Dakota Pheasant Hunt
Many African Hunts
Fly in Fishing at McDougall Lodge, Alaska
Contact Tom Fisher: tbfisher@charter.net
Steven Cripps: spcripps@sbcglobal.net
Or call (888)478-4747
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
City ________________________________________________________ State ________ Zip ____________
Phone ________________________ Email Address _______________________________________________
Payment by:
□Check (Please make checks payable to SCI Badgerland) □ MasterCard □Visa □ Discover
Credit Card Number _______________________________________________Expiration Date ____________
CVV Number _________ (3 digit number on the back of your card)
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
Mail to:
SCI Badgerland
PO Box 2714
Madison WI 53701
17
Humanitarian Services Hunt Report:
Hunt Report:
ACCES-SCI-BILITY
Dylan’s First
“Outdoor Wisconsin” TV will air the wheelchair pheasant hunt made
possible last month by funding from the Wisconsin Chapter of SCI
Northeast WI Expo auction delivered
lifelong memories for high bidder and teen guest
by Mark LaBarbera
Monica Kamal maneuvered the Action
TrackChair through the corn stubble as
Al Comstock’s dog, Sage, held point.
The rooster flushed in a cackling blur of
wings and long tail feathers. Monica
swung the shotgun, pulled the trigger
and moments later accepted the bird
from a happy Sage. The wheelchair-bound hunter beamed a warm
smile despite the cold weather.
A little further up the hill, it happened
again. Sage pointed, Monica positioned her chair and Al flushed the
rooster; this time, a black ringneck with
beautiful feathers erupted silently. We
all got a good look at the bird after Sage
retrieved it.
You’ll be able to see it too, along with
all of the action from the SCI-sponsored
pheasant hunt at Pheasant Crest
Hunting Preserve in Oxford. The
Outdoor Heritage Education Center
group coordinated with Dan Small for
his “Outdoor Wisconsin” TV crew to
cover the early December outing underwritten by the Wisconsin Chapter of
Safari Club International. Funding in
previous years by the Badgerland
Chapter helped buy pheasant launchers that made a world of difference for
physically challenged guests. The
chapter’s Bill Hilgers and his pup,
Copper, witnessed the powerfully therapeutic value of this day afield.
“I want to thank SCI and the
Wisconsin Chapter this year for making
this all possible,” Monica told TV celebrity and “Outdoor Wisconsin” host Dan
18
Small as the
camera recorded
the action and
th e e m oti o n s.
Off-camera, her
significant other,
Steve Spaeni
talked with pride
about Monica’s
turkey and mule
deer success.
“We’ve learned
to value ever y
minute we can
spend outdoors
in Wisconsin and
elsewhere,” Spaeni said.
Monica severed her spinal cord years
ago in a skiing accident as she chaperoned her son’s 7th grade field trip.
Most of the students were off the slope,
and she was doing one last run to collect stragglers who did not want the day
to end. She lost control of a ski, hit a
tree and changed her life forever with
the loss of movement from the chest
down.
“You wouldn’t know it through all
these layers of winter hunting clothes,
but there’s an athlete inside,” joked
Monica.
Most of the other pheasant hunters
were military veterans or had been
injured in vehicle accidents.
“It could happen to us SCI members
or anyone at anytime,” said Dan Small.
“One of the things these hunters
have in common with all of the volunteers helping on the hunt today, “ said
Pheasant Crest Owner Wayne Smith,
“is they all share a love of hunting and
the outdoors. SCI is helping these 11
hunters and hundreds of others across
the country throughout the years enjoy
the healing power of nature.”
Terrence Green of Bay view, a
Vietnam veteran who is AfricanAmerican, used one of the loaner Action
TrackChairs provided by Access Ability
Wisconsin, a group that formed in 2013
with help from Oregon Sportsman’s
Club and became an initiative of Dane
County Pheasants Forever in 2014.
AAW rents the all-terrain wheelchairs.
___________________________
If you would like to support these
humanitarian ser vices and other
aspects of the SCI mission, please participate generously at this year’s chapter fundraising events or send a special
donation in any amount to your chapter’s treasurer.
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
by Gary Knaack
I bought a whitetail deer hunt at the
Northeast Wisconsin SCI Hunters Expo
last February. It was donated by Sandy
Hills Ranch in Wautoma and owners
Hans and Heidi Schlegelmitch and
Manager Bob Daggett. I took 19-yearold Dylan Heimmermann to enjoy this
hunt on Sandy Hill hunting preserve’s
350 acres of woods and some corn
fields.
Dylan is in his second year at
UW-River Falls, studying Agricultural
Engineering. Dylan had never harvested a whitetail buck, so I thought this
hunt would be a good birthday present
for him.
On October 10, Dylan met me at the
ranch and we spend that Friday night at
their lodge. Early Saturday we awoke
to a beautiful day weather-wise. We left
at 6 a.m. for the blind. Our guide was
Anita Daggett, Bob’s wife. We settled
into our blind to wait until
it got light. The first hour
was slow, with limited
deer movement, but then
things changed, with several bucks making their
a p p e a r a n c e.
I had
upgraded to a larger
buck, so we had to wait and glass for a
big guy. We spotted a nice buck working his way toward us, but Dylan never
had a good shot at him. We had to wait
for another one to come close. About
two hours later, the first buck returned.
Dylan took a shot and the buck ran off.
We waited for 90 minutes and tracked
the buck, which went about 300 yards.
Dylan had his first buck, a huge-bodied
5 ½ -year-old 9 pt. with very heavy
antlers!
After a lot of high fives and picture
taking, it was time to get this big buck
field dressed. This big guy weighed 270
pounds dressed; a real monster buck!
I am having this deer mounted for
Dylan by Jeff Champeau from Nature’s
Way Taxidermy, Green Bay. Jeff had
donated a credit towards a head mount
at our Hunter’s Expo at Stadium View in
Green Bay. Our 2015 Expo will be Feb.
27-28. Mark those dates and try to
attend our banquet. They are a lot of
fun.
It was a very pleasant drive back to
Hortonville to show off Dylan’s nice
buck. Again, a very special thank you
to Bob and Anita, Hans and Heidi for a
special time for Dylan and me. Hope to
get back there again soon.
Record Reach for
Deer Hunt Wisconsin TV
More stations than ever carried “Deer
Hunt Wisconsin” TV in 2014, the most
recent one-hour special in the national
award-winning series txwhat has been
honored for valuable content and quality production values. Plus, FOX Sports
North and FOX Sports Wisconsin
increased the number of airings. It was
a double-win for SCI.
SCI members Dan Small and Mark
LaBarbera produce and co-host the
show. With a last-minute donation from
the Outdoor Heritage Education Center
group, they added Madison broadcast
channel FOX 47 to reach a wider audience with the pro-hunting messages
and imager y of the show.
SCI
Badgerland and Wisconsin Chapter
logos were included, and Dan wore an
SCI cap through most of the show.
Large sponsors already are asking that
he do the same for them next year.
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
If you miss the original airings, you
can catch it online year-round on various websites, including dansmalloutdoors.com, dnr.wi.gov, YouTube and
elsewhere.
The Wisconsin DNR contributes to
the show and uses it in the agency’s
expanded social media ef for ts.
Secretary Cathy Stepp and her leadership team had Kevin Wallenfang coordinate the project and explain how the
rules change, but the tradition remains.
The production is made possible
with additional funding or product support from Badgerland SCI, Bad Boy
Buggies, Benelli, DogBone, Easton,
Henry Repeating Arms, Hunting Works
for Wisconsin, Mayville Engineering
Corp. (MEC), Midwestern Shooter’s
Supply, Real Avid, The Range of
Richf ield, Va lley Snow mobile &
Powersports, Steiner Optics, Whitetails
Unlimited, Wildlife Research Center,
Wisconsin Buck & Bear Club, Wisconsin
Outdoor News and Wisconsin Tourism.
Wern Valley is the official host sponsor
for “Deer Hunt Wisconsin 2014.”
If you have deer or hunt footage you
would like to see on the show, or if you
may want to sponsor the program, contact WiSCImag@peoplepc.com.
19
Hunt Report:
Can you see the buck and the doe in
this photo, and in the other photo, in
these views from the Sandy Hill blind?
by Mark
by
Mar
ark LaBarbera
LaBa
La
B rb
Ba
rber
e ra
Wisconsin’s Scott Hansen died, three
times, but I hunted with him twice since
then. On our November 2014 outing he
shot the biggest buck of his life. His
story is both a reality check on how we
spend our precious time on earth and
how hunting and dreams of future
adventures can be powerfully healing
and motivating.
Scott was working on a road crew in
West Allis when a distracted motorist,
speeding along, ran into him and a
coworker. Her car tore off both of
Scott’s legs.
“I died,” said Scott. “Rescue workers
brought me back to life. And then I died
twice again. And they brought me back
to life again and again! I was in a coma
for a month.” He was stuck in the hospital when he came out of the coma,
and he thought about giving up.
“They didn’t think I would survive,
they told my wife. And they called my
pastor to come,” he said. “I remember
how painful it was to realize that I would
miss
Wisconsin
hunting
m
mi
i s s the
h W
he
iss co
con
n s in
ns
n h
unti
un
ting
ng sseason.
e a so
o n.
An
A
And
n d I remember
re me
em
mb
b er
e ttelling
e ling
el
ng myself
mys
y ell f that
t att I
th
couldn’t give up—I had to survive—for
my wife and for my son who was seven
back then.”
An avid hunter, he fought back
through 22 surgeries and continues to
look forward to each new adventure
and his next hunting trip as a way to find
motivation for overcoming daily challenges and frustrations. Yet he
remained positive and fiercely independent. And he dreamed about going on
a mule deer hunt and also someday
taking a nice whitetail.
If this sounds familiar, it might
be because you read about our
New Mexico mule deer success in
a previous issue. But Scott’s lifeaffirming story added a new chapter in
the last few months, thanks to
Sandy Hill Ranch, Outdoor Heritage
Ed u c ati o n C e nte r a n d th e SCI
Wisconsin Chapter.
The adventure started when Wayne
Smith introduced me to Bob Daggett at
a chapter fundraiser. Bob manages
Sa
andy Hill
Hill for
Hi
for
o owners
own
wner
e s Hans
er
Hans
ns and
and Heide
He
eide
e
Sandy
To learn more about Sandy Hill’s new
lodge, cabins, elk and deer hunts,
or Buck Smoke products visit www.
sandyhillexotics.com or email Bob &
Anita at sandyhillexotics@msn.com.
20
0
Schl
Sc
ch eg
gelmi
m lc
ch His
His wife,
wiffe
wi
fe Anita,
Anitta guides.
guides
de
es
Schlegelmilch.
They’ve seen it all in decades of hunting
adventures all over the world, both as
clients and as outfitters and former
owners of Bear Paw Landing in Ontario.
Everyone at Sandy Hill understands the
value of giving back, so it was no coincidence that Bob had already constructed a wheelchair-accessible blind
overlooking a waterhole on Sandy Hill’s
350 hilly high fence acres of woods and
fields.
SCI members here and across the
country help connect people to the
environment through Education,
Humanitarian Services and other programs. This time, we also wanted to
capture the experience with photos and
video for “Deer Hunt Wisconsin 2015”
TV, Safari Times, SCI WI HUNTERS,
chapter websites, social media and
other far-reaching media. The idea is to
help the participant but also to tell the
story of the value of hunting to a wider
audience of the non-hunting public and
reach the masses with positive imagery
of hunters and hunting.
SCI Wisconsin Chapter President
Michael Betters gives a good example
in his column this issue where he thanks
Rick Rollo who hosts the Big Al Shoot
fundraiser in honor of his father,
Eldridge, with the net proceeds used to
promote accessible outdoor adventures for military veterans, physically
challenged individuals or terminal
patients, young and old.
I was along as organizer, videographer, producer, director, photographer,
chief cook and bottle washer and
non-hunting observer. And even though
I knew Scott’s story from our successful mule deer adventure, it touched me
to hear it again through the wireless
mics as Scott and his guide, Anita, got
to know each other in whispered dialogue the first morning in the blind.
Yes, Anita and Bob may have seen it
all in their years of hunting and guiding,
but the tears in her eyes and the look on
her face made it clear that this was a
new story that touched her like no other.
“I’ve learned to live each day like it
might be your last,” Scott said in a way
WI
W SCI
SC
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th
hatt sseemed
eeme
med
ed to
o carry
carry
ryy more
more wei
that
weight and
a deeper meaning than when others
say it.
“Go hunting, make memories, have
fun with family and friends,” he said,
“and appreciate what you have and
what you’re able to do, while you still
can.”
It was something we have all heard
before. In fact, it was something we
have told our kids, but there was something more credible and powerful in
those same words coming from someone who had died and come back to
life! He wouldn’t take offense to say,
even in a wheelchair, he walks the talk.
He’s a living testament to the philosophy of live life to its fullest, which means
more time hunting with loved ones and
less time sweating the small stuff.
Compared to what Scott endured, all of
our worries now seem like small stuff.
Suddenly movement on the horizon
caught their eye.
A horizontal line among the trees, a
deer’s back, and then a flick of an ear,
it was a doe. Then another movement,
behind her another deer trailed. Scott
saw antlers.
Adrenaline pumped. He and Anita
watched, silent and still.
The deer, never within range, disappeared after a while.
Daylight brought more activity, or
maybe just gave us the ability to see
further. Deer skirted the edge of the
distant cornfield. Other does and bucks
worked the ridge above the waterhole.
Fawns and does came to drink.
Bucks followed.
A shooter came into view and
seemed to be following the same path
as a previous doe. The trail would lead
to a broadside shot. Scott reached
slowly from his wheelchair for his
TenPoint.
Meticulously, he brought the crossbow up on the left side of the blind’s
corner post, but the buck had already
move far enough along the trail to leave
no time for a shot on that side. Scott
began to move the crossbow to the
right side, but Anita reached over below
the blind’s half-wall to stop him when
WI
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a y 20
2
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15
the 155” whitetail stopped and looked
toward them.
Scott froze, arm and back muscles
straining.
The buck seemed to be looking right
through Anita. Maybe another deer
was behind her that only Scott’s buck
could see?
Soon it looked toward where the doe
had gone, and Anita released Scott to
position his crossbow for a shot.
Silently, he slipped off the safety. His
wheelchair was at the right angle, and
Scott did not hesitate
as the buck stepped
i n to a n o p e n i n g
among the trees and
underbrush at about
35 yards.
Video camera rolling with Scott in the
foreground, the
lighted nock traced
the trajectory of the
bolt, or crossbow
arrow, from hunter,
through lungs, to
leaves-covered
side-hill. The camera
followed the flight of
the big buck also,
until
it
was
hooves-up seconds
later above the
waterhole.
Pan back to successful hunter and
roll as a flood of emotions pour from
both Scott and Anita.
“He’s down! I got him! I got him!
“Great shot! Perfect!”
“Thanks. Got him! Biggest I’ve ever
shot! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!
I’ll never forget this.”
“No, thank YOU! I’m so glad it all
came together for you after all you’ve
been through,” she said with tears of joy
and relief. Months later, it still makes her
tear up.
21
21
SCI-Lake Superior Chapter Banquet Reservation
April 10 and 11, 2015
(Grand Casino in Hinckley, MN)
Please reserve your ticket(s) by March 28, 2015
Please indicate number of reservations or raffle tickets required:
Combined Both Night Event Ticket:
__________ guests @ $140 each
Friday Night Only Event Ticket:
__________ guests @ $85 each
Saturday Night Only Event Ticket:
__________ guests @ $100 each
Youth 16 and under Fri. or Sat. Ticket:
__________ guests @ $60 each
Early Bird Raffle $10 per ticket or $25 for 3
__________ # of tickets
Early Bird Gun
Kimber Mountain Ascent
270 WIN
Total Enclosed $___________________
Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________
City: _____________________________________
State: ___________ Zip: __________ Phone/Email: __________________________________________________
___ Visa ___MC ___AmEx
CreditCard#: __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __
___ Check Payable to SCI-LSC
Exp. Date: ___ / ___
Signature: _____________________________
SAVE TIME AND ENSURE YOUR RESERVATION BY REGISTERING
NOW ONLINE:
http://sci-lakesuperior.com/
Registration can also be done on the Lake Superior Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/LakeSuperiorChapterSCI
Please mail registration form with payment to: Lake Superior Chapter, 23810 Manning Trail North, Scandia, MN 55073
Please Contact Cyndy Boyce at 651-248-3968 or lsscichapter@gmail.com
**Rooms are available by calling the Grand Casino direct at 800-472-6321**
LOANER GUNS CREATE HUNTERS
Dea r SCI & O
HEC,
I recently pa
rticipated in
a Learn to H
M ilford H il ls
u nt Deer prog
w ith a bu nch
ra m at
of other adu lt
tu n ity to also
s and had the
goose hu nt fo
opporr
the fi rst time
tion of Sc ot
u
t K ir chof f w
it h helpfu l su nder the instrucChapter and
pplies fr om
the Outdoor
SC I W I
Heritage Edu
not to spook or lose her
One of the th
cation Center.
ings I am grea
tly appreciati
across the river.
gram prov id
ve about, is th
es th
e proWe went back to his truck. don’t have you e loaner fi rearms plus am
mu n ition if yo
r ow n, and I do
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t.
I’m in my 40’
Half way back to the river we
use for geese
on
s and was able
shotgu ns fu nd e of the SCI OHEC sem i-aut
looked and there was a doe
omatic 20 -gau
ed in pa rt by
ge
you r orga n iz
I wanted to th
standing outside the wilation.
an k you for
you r donatio
from you r or
lows, flipping her tail as if to
n. Without su
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ese prog ra m
resou rces av
s wou ld n’t ha
say, “Ha-ha, you missed
ai lable for ne
ve the
w hu nters to
cess on both
use. I had gr
my hu nts, an
me!” I couldn’t believe I
eat sucd shot my fi rs
of geese. t doe and fi rs
missed the doe twice, and
t
couple
Th
hoped that was not my gu an k you again for your dona
tion to the Le
n loaner prog
arn to Hunt an
ra ms, wonde
doe! Scott and I duck hu nt
rfu l ways to
d
in g. I w il l be
introduce pe
pa
rt
hunted for two hours, givic
ople to
ip
at
in g in more
grams in the
L ea rn to Hu
futu re.
nt proing my deer time.
My Learn to Hunt Deer Experience
by Dawn
b
Da n Ziolecki
A co-worker promotes hunting and is
a Learn to Hunt instructor. Another
co-worker, Lynda, and I were both
very interested in learning to deer hunt.
So I eagerly contacted Scott Kirchoff
to enroll in this program to introduce
hunting to adults who have not hunted
deer.
After about six meetings to learn
about deer, habitat, hunting equipment
and preparation, we were ready to go
on our hunt. Lynda and I met Scott and
Brenda, a Learn to Hunt rep for the
DNR, at 5:30 am Sunday, October 5.
We were fortunate enough to be able to
hunt at Brenda’s farm in Lowell.
24
Lynda and her mentor Brenda went
to a soybean field to hunt, while Scott
and I got in a ground blind in woods
about 20 feet from a cornfield. We
waited anxiously for legal hunting time.
Soon we heard a lot of gunfire in the
distant marshes. It was the duck
opener. There was a swamp about 75
yards to our left and cornfield to the
right and behind us. We were hopeful
the duck hunters shooting would scare
up some deer our way. Less than two hours into the hunt,
Scott spotted two does running from
the swamp but away from us. We hurried up and set the rifle on the tripod
and aimed towards the swamp.
I spotted another doe! This one was
bigger but no shot, running too fast and
too many trees in the way.
We turned towards the back of the
blind anticipating the deer might run
along the cornfield.
The deer never came that way. We
didn’t see any additional deer that
morning and wrapped up around
10:30am. We all met back at the barn
and compared notes. We all enjoyed
the hunt. The only deer that were spotted for the Learn to Hunt Program that
weekend were those three does.
Scott invited Lynda and me to go
duck hunting on the Rock River in the
Ixonia area. Lynda had another commitment. Scott and I went
to see if we would have
better luck with duck hunting that day. We picked up
Scott’s dog, Remi, and
headed to his friend Dave’s
property. As I was driving
up to the prope r t y, I
enjoyed the beautiful hunting property; open field,
large spots of willows and
the river, as well as corn
and soybeans around the
property. We pulled up to
the pole barn and loaded
up the utility vehicle with
his dog, guns and waders. We headed towards the
river about 50 yards from
the house. We went around
a small strip of soybeans to
get to the field that included
a small hill and large
patches of willows. The
river was along two sides
of the property in an L
shape. As we were heading to the river, there was a
doe standing broadside,
feeding near a distant
patch of willows. It saw us
but just kept eating. I asked
Scott if I could shoot her.
The deer was in the perfect
position. He quickly called
Dave who gave us
permission.
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
Scott had to walk about 80 yards
back to the truck with his dog and get
our blaze orange gear and rifle. When
he returned, Scott said we would have
to belly crawl to the edge of the hill to
get a shot. We started to belly crawl in
a manure-covered field about 50 yards.
We had to stop a few times when the
deer picked up her head. We got to the
edge of the hill, and Scott said to prop
up on my elbows and look through the
scope to see if I could see the deer. I
couldn’t; my arms are too short. We
went over to the right a little. I tried
again. I could see the deer, but barely.
To help me get a better rest for a clean
shot, Scott laid perpendicular to me,
and I got propped up on his back to be
able to see the deer. I was so excited for
the shot. I started to shake! Scott told
me to take my time. Easy for him to say,
I was just trying to hold the gun still. I
looked through the scope; the deer still
standing picture perfect, broadside. I
shot! The deer just look at me like, really
what are you doing? I missed her? I
reloaded for another shot. The deer
started to run. Scott whistled. The deer
stopped. I shot again. She kicked up
her back leg and ran into the large
bunch of willows. I wasn’t sure if I hit it
or missed again. Scott thought I hit her
with the last shot but suggested we
leave her alone for a couple hours so
Dave and his son-inSincerely,
law showed up to do
Daw n Ziolecki
some grass cut ting.
Dave picked us up. We
went to the willows where the doe ran.
I found blood on blade of grass. I start
to get excited. Now I knew I had hit her.
We stopped at the last blood spot on
the branch that lead out of the willows
to the long grass, few large bushes and
the river. Scott said, “We didn’t find
enough blood to think its dead. We
don’t want to continue in case it was
laying in the grass or bushes. If we
spook it and it runs across the river we
could lose it.” We decided to go back
to the house and wait an hour.
Dave’s daughter showed up and we
all went to look for the deer. As soon as
I got out of the utility vehicle, a doe
came running out of the
willows right in front of me.
I just looked at Dave and
Scott with my mouth wide
open. Dave said to me
“Dawn, that’s not your
doe.” I felt much better.
Scott and I started to walk
around the other side by
the river to see if we could
see the doe in the bushes
or grass. I didn’t see anything. He told me to stay by
the edge of the river. He
was going to go back and
see if the doe was in the
bushes or tall grass. If it
would come out running I
New hunter Dawn Ziolecki shot her first goose
would have a safe shot if it
and first deer, and says now she is hooked on
runs to the river, but if it
hunting for food.
runs to the f ield, the
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
buildings were too
close. I stood there and waited. Of
course it seemed like forever till Scott
called me over. I couldn’t tell by the way
he was acting if he found it or it not. We
went back to the last blood trail and
started to look for blood. I found a few
drops on a piece of long grass. A few
steps further was another spot. A few
steps further was a large spot.
I was looking for more blood when
Scott leaned over my shoulder and
pointed to my right where my dead doe
was half in grass and half in a bush. I
was very excited. I said, “I got her! I got
her!”
I think Scott was just as excited for
me as I was. I want to believe she died
quickly, but I was glad we waited just in
case. We took photos.
I actually hit the deer twice. What a
relief. The first shot was low on the neck
and the second was near her back leg
through the gut, which made field
dressing it interesting. I did part of it,
but Scott did most of it.
It was a great learning experience. I
know I wouldn’t have been able to do it
by myself. Out of the six people in the
Learn to Hunt program, I was the only
one who saw deer. The entire experience was wonderful. I met great people, learned a lot about deer hunting,
had a great instructor and, of course,
the big reward was getting venison for
our family.
25
t wo billys at
a b o u t 10 0
yards. After the
shot, I’m thinking I should get
up to the ridge
top to see what
was happening.
As I crested, I
saw two billys
walking toward
me. I put the
scope on one
and then the
other. Deciding
the one on the
right to be
larger, I was just
Hunt Report:
Kodiak Alaska
Mountain Goat Adventure
by Steve Taylor
This hunt actually started in the fall of
2006 when Mike Marta and I hunted
goats in British Columbia, unsuccessfully. The hunt was fun, but no shots
were taken. The thought of another
goat hunt was always in the back of my
mind, fast forward to 2013 when a
friend recommended mountain goat
hunting on Kodiak Island, Alaska. Now
I was 64 years old and after many gym
hours, I felt somewhat in shape. I
applied for a permit through Paul
Chervenak, who operates Kodiak
Outdoor Adventures outfitting. I
enlisted my friend Fred Hubley Jr. to
come along. Fred does mountain bike
races, cross country skis competitively
and is generally in great shape. I figured he would be of great help if we
were lucky enough to get a goat or two.
Unfortunately, we were not drawn
that year. Keeping up our work outs, we
applied again in 2014, again without
success. To our good fortune, Paul
reacquired a guiding area covering the
26
central part of the island adjacent to his
cabin on Zachar Bay. He was able to
get tags for us in this area. The dates
of the hunt were set for late September,
Fre d’s 7mm mag a nd my .325
Winchester short mag were zeroed in
and we were pumped.
We departed early on a Friday morning from Green Bay and arrived in
Kodiak late afternoon. After a delicious
seafood dinner with Paul (he had pizza,
go figure), we tried to sleep before the
long awaited hunt would begin the next
day. After a delay for our Beaver float
plane, we were finally in the air on a glorious afternoon to a mountain lake
above tree line. We saw several goat
herds from the plane which added to
our excitement. The plane was
unloaded and gear sorted for establishing a spike camp for three days. Paul
enlisted the aid of a second guide, Stig,
who turned out to be worth his weight
in gold. This young man could move
around the mountains like a goat with a
huge pack on his back. Plus his
constant good nature and big smile
made the hunt that much more enjoyable. With our packs all set we started
to climb. As darkness fell, we set up
our spike camp. Now the mountains on
Kodiak are not that high, but they
seemed plenty steep to Fred and I. The
highest peaks are in the 4500 foot
range, we were at 3500 feet, with our
camp probably at about 2800 feet.
The morning arrived with fog and
light rain. After a breakfast of oatmeal
and fruit we started hiking, looking for
goats. The first bowl we glassed was
empty; too bad it would have been a
sweet spot. Continuing on, Fred spotted four goats about a mile away.
Through Stig’s spotting scope we could
see a good mature billy. Then the fog
set in. About an hour later it lifted just
enough for Paul to plan a stalk. Off we
went, moving west about a half mile
and beginning a descent of around
1600 feet to a valley floor. It was steep!
Then we moved across and around to
begin climbing a ridge that hopefully
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
would put us in range of said billy. Paul
decided to circle around behind the
goats in case the rest of us somehow
bumped the goats. As we got into position it was decided Fred would take the
first shot at the biggest goat as he was
the one who saw them first. I would follow up at another if a chance might
present itself. We were now about four
hours into the stalk. Fred stayed by the
spotting scope. Stig and I moved up
100 yards or so. Stig went higher to
see if Fred could get a closer shot. It
was now about 3pm.
Coming back down to me he
reported that indeed Fred could get to
about 175 yards of the big billy. As he
was explaining the plan in a hushed
whisper to me, Fred shot! Stig raced
down to Fred to see what was going on.
Apparently Paul had somehow alerted
the goats and they were coming to us.
Fred felt he had to shoot when he had
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
about to squeeze the
trigger, when the goat
began rolling down
the mountain. It was
the one Fred had shot.
The other goat
jumped behind some
rocks preventing a
shot. There were
goats everywhere but
none in range. Then
out of the corner of
my eye to the left up
higher,a goat appeared. It looked big to
me, long white hair, fairly good horns,
alone. It must be a billy, or so I thought.
Fred advised Stig to get back up to me
as he was certain I would shoot if there
was an opportunity. He was right. I
g
shot and goat number two was rolling
down the mountain.
s,
s,
Now Fred and I are not goat experts,
g
nor are we true trophy hunters. Going
in
nto
o the
th
he
eh
unt,
un
unt,
t, we
we agreed
a
into
hunt,
any represen-ttative
ta
atit ve
ea
nima
ni
mal taken
tta
ake
k n fairly would be a tro-animal
p
ph
ffo
or us.
us. So,
us
So
o,, Fred’s goat ended up
p
phyy for
bein
be
ng a yo
oun
un
d
being
younger
billy with around
inch
n ch
ch h
o
7 in
horns.
My “big goat””
ttu
u rn
n ed
e d out to be a mature
e
turned
nann
na
nn with 8+ inch horns.
nn
s.
nanny
W
y.
We were both happy.
e
Of course a very nice
0
billy walked past 100
e
yards away after the
s.
s.
shooting. So it goes.
s
sAfter a photo sesg
sion, the skinning
att
and boning of meat
took place. It was now about 6 pm.
With heavy packs we start our hike
back to spike camp. The 1600 foot
climb ended up taking place mostly in
the dark. We arrived back at camp at
10 pm. What a great day!
We broke camp the next morning
and hiked back for a bush plane pick up
that afternoon. We flew down the valley
to Paul’s cabin where the adventure
continued with black tail deer hunting,
silver salmon fishing, king salmon fishing and a 100 mile boat trip back to
Kodiak. This is my fifth trip to Alaska,
but never to Kodiak Island. It is unique!
I felt that I was truly in the last frontier.
Paul Chervenak is a great guide with
top notch equipment. His knowledge of
the island is astounding. His web site is
www.kodiakoutdoors.com. He also
does fall and spring brown bear hunts,
sea duck hunts and summer fishing
g seeing
g trips.
and sight
27
Hunt Report:
9’ Grizzly at 9 Feet!
by Jeff Belongia
Having taken an exceptional inland grizzly in April of 2002 with Ray Atkins, I
had considered that I may have used up
my grizzly “horse shoe.”
Grizzly bears are of course North
America’s apex predator and can be
dangerous to one’s health. Having
fished Alaska’s Inside Passage on three
occasions, and spotting a number of
bears feeding in the salmon choked rivers, I thought a fall hunt for these magnificent animals would provide some
excitement.
I contacted Gary Gray of Alsek River
Lodge and sent a deposit nearly two
years in advance. Yes, I did say Lodge!
I have done the tent thing in Alaska six
other times and can tell you it is overrated. The idea of a hot shower and
real food along with a real mattress
under me at night was a huge selling
point. Ok, I am getting real soft as I age;
no argument there. Usually getting
remote means higher success with the
apex predators, but don’t be fooled;
you will not drive to the lodge. There will
be bears.
Gary is headquartered out of Yakutat,
which is about 198 miles north of
Juneau. The lodge is a 45-mile plane
ride southeast on the Alsek. Yakutat
28
receives an average of 135 inches of
precipitation a year. Most of it rain, so
having a warm heated “drying room” for
gear at the end of the day is a Godsend.
My 10-day hunt began on September
12, and I shot the 33rd different bear I
saw on Day 4. The routine was to get
up at 4 a.m., climb on the quad and ride
45 minutes to an hour to one of the
salmon spawning rivers. Once there,
we dropped down into the river and
waded to the shallow areas where the
bears were feeding. Please trust my
judgment when I tell you to avoid “walking” the alder choked banks of the river.
We would locate a grassy point or
“spot” and sit. Often times we would
intercept bears feeding in the river quite
close so it was easy for a novice like me
to determine whether we had chosen a
good place to view bears. On four separate occasions I had bears feed or
walk to within four to six yards of my
position. Yes boys and girls, 12 feet
maybe a bit closer. This is not a physically demanding hunt but it will test your
nerves. On day two while
sitting on a sand bar
along the Pacific Ocean and watching
bears feed at the mouth of the river, an
adult female I estimated at 650 pounds
caught my scent and her interest
peaked. She walked directly toward me
and stood no more than three gun
lengths to my right, checking me out. I
was not flattered. I must tell you my
pulse quickened rapidly and I was
happy that I had remembered my blood
pressure medication. She stood for a
few long moments before deciding not
to eat me.
Holding a .338 Win. Mag. with 225grain Swift A-Frame bullets loaded
to 2850 fps did nothing to slow
my pulse before pulling the
trigger. I was pointing it in
her direction but knew she
could bite me before she
died. It pleased me not to
have to use one of
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
my bullets and my tag on her, but I did.
I had to help her decide not to rearrange my profile.
You can see in these photos how dark she was.
I can highly recommend this hunt and
outfitter. Price is well
below the average
brown bear hunt and
it is not a difficult hunt.
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
There was another hunter in camp
with his wife. Both were in their late 60s
and Mary went out with Jim every day.
Jim collected a 9’ 2” bear the third day
and my bear was just at nine feet
square.
Our meals were salmon, leg of lamb,
ribs, alder smoked grilled chicken by
Gary that was excellent, halibut, and
great salads and sides.
Ginger Gray is a fine cook and wonderful lady. My guide Don Kann was
quiet, but fun to be with. I did enough
talking for two in any case.
29
FWS Ignores Science
In Upholding Elephant Ban
Washington, D.C. – SCI members
and millions of hunter conservationists
worldwide are shocked and disappointed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (FWS) decision to continue the
ban on the importation of elephants
from Zimbabwe for the rest of 2014,
according to SCI President Craig
Kauffman. He said, “SCI’s Washington
team will do everything within its power
to reverse this misguided and baseless
policy.”
This decision comes months after
SCI, Zimbabwe, and others provided
data and detailed responses to
questions submitted by the FWS. Both
Zimbabwe and SCI provided extensive
information supporting Zimbabwe’s
adaptive elephant management plan
and regulated hunting program. The
i n f o r m a t i o n d e m o n s t r a te s t h a t
Zimbabwe’s management works, U.S.
hunters are part of the solution, and the
elephant population is not drastically
declining as alarmists would have you
believe.
Removing the U.S. hunter from
Africa’s great outdoors will permanently
handicap communal wildlife administrators in their fight against poachers and
result in significantly less money
for conservation
and
rural
development.
Problems with
poaching in
Zimbabwe will be
exacerbated by
this ill-advised
importation ban.
I n te r n a ti o n a l
hunters are the
first line of defense for conservation, manage-
ment, and anti-poaching throughout
Africa.
History has proven that, when wildlife
has no value to local residents and
businesses, poaching will increase.
The following examples show how
hunter-derived revenue is critically
important to the rural economy of
Zimbabwe:
In Zimbabwe, hunter-derived revenue
contributes between 60-90% of the
annual budget for the Zimbabwe Parks
and Wildlife Management Authority.
This funding is critical to on-the-ground
anti-poaching efforts.
In many areas, the fees paid by international hunters are immediately reinvested in community projects through a
community-based natural resources
management program called
CAMPFIRE.
An average of 90% of CAMPFIRE
revenue annually comes from hunting.
Elephant hunting contributes more than
70% of CAMPFIRE’s annual revenue.
On average $2 million per year in net
income directly benefits local communities, and most of this is derived from
the lease of hunting rights to commercial safari operators in 49 CAMPFIRE
hunting concessions.
SCOTLAND RED STAG HUNT
Dwight DeBoer Double Drop Tine Stag
Armand Brachman 40 Point Plus Stag
Complete Packages Include:
Extremely Rare White Stag For the Discriminating Hunter!
Round Trip Airfare
Airport Transfers
Meals and Lodging
18th Century Luxurious Estate
Scottish Stag
Starting Less Than
$6,000!
Bill Barrett 16 Point Stag
Michael Thompson
Roe Buck
We will personally import your trophies
and have them at your taxidermist
within 60 days of our hunt!
Armand Brachman Largest
Known White Stag
Michael Thompson 20 Point Stag
Nobody does that!
Harry Fischer 16 Point Stag
Soay Ram
Karen Fischer 12 Point Stag
Fallow Buck
We are not booking
agents!
Michael, Danielle,
& Justin Grosse
Are your personal hosts
on this exciting adventure!
0RXÀRQ5DP
International Adventures Unlimited
(970) 641-5369
e.mail intadvun@gunnison.com
Dan Pohlman Estate Fallow
Dan Pohlman 13 Point Stag
You owe it to yourself to call or email and
have us send you all the details on this
Incredible Opportunity!
Featured here are some Wisconsin SCI Chapter members who hunted with us this past fall.
30
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
You’ve Heard About Us - Now Come Hunt With Us!!!
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
31
LaBarbera Added to Advisory Team
Congress authorized the U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service in 2001 to implement
and fund a new program to help states
proactively address needs of declining
wildlife species before they required listing as Endangered or Threatened. The
State Wildlife Grants program provides
federal funding to every state to conserve wildlife Species of Greatest
Conservation Need. Species of GCN
have low and/or declining populations
that are in need of conservation action.
They include various birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates that are:
• Already listed as threatened or
endangered;
• At risk due to threats to their life history needs or habitats;
• Stable in number here, but declining
in adjacent states or nationally; and
• Of unknown status here and suspected to be vulnerable.
Wisconsin’s “Strategy for Wildlife
Species of Greatest Conservation
Need” identifies:
1. Which species with low or declining
populations are most at risk of no
longer being a viable par t of
Wisconsin’s fauna,
2. What habitats they are associated
with,
3. Where they occur across the state,
and
4. Actions to be developed into specific on-the-ground projects to “get
them of f and keep them of f”
Endangered or Threatened lists.
What this strategy will do for
Wisconsin:
• Focus efforts on species most at
risk.
• Save money by preventing species
from being listed. The Strategy identifies proactive steps to take now to
avoid expensive actions later.
• Stress importance of protecting
habitats as a means of protecting
whole suites of species.
• Continue efforts to coordinate and
prioritize conservation actions to
benefit the largest number of SGCN,
as well as other game and nongame species, by providing info on
threats and needs from both habitat
and regional perspectives.
• Provide a reference document and
dynamic database to support agencies, organizations, and individuals
in meeting their conservation goals.
Manufacturing, Inc.
2450 S. Commerce Drive
New Berlin, WI 53151
(262) 786-1600 Tel
Jim Lang – Sales@advantechmfg.com
www.advantechmachining.com
Our full service machine shop makes
us your “first to call ” and “one stop ”
vendor, saving you time and money.
By utilizing state-of-the-art CNC
machines we consistently deliver
expertly crafted, quality parts –
machined, assembled, finished
and shipped.
Custom & Production Machining
CNC Lathe
CNC Milling
Sawing & Buffing Services
Resistance & Spot Welding
Orbital Riveting
Assembly, Packing & Shipping
Plasma Cutting
Advantech has the unique
combination of resources and
skills to completely manufacture
and ship your product, component
or sub-assembly.
groups of species without introducing new regulations or constraints,
ensure Wisconsin remains eligible
for federal funding from the State
Wildlife Grants Program, and help
guide the future allocation of these
funds.
SCI life member Mark LaBarbera has
been asked to serve on the Wisconsin
Wildlife Action Plan Advisory Team on
behalf of the Natural Resources
Foundation of Wisconsin, a key partner.
The team is reviewing and helping to
revise the action plan.
32
(800) 511-2098
• Build partnerships and encourage
collaborative approaches to conserving habitats and species at the
local level. With input from partners,
DNR will draft an implementation
plan identifying which priority conservation actions it is best suited to
address and how it can most effectively assist partners.
• Adapt to changing opportunities
and threats.
• Describe ongoing and future opportunities to monitor SGCN and their
habitats as well as establish a process for periodically reviewing and
revising the Strategy as new information becomes available.
• Leverage past efforts to benefit
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
What we can do for you:
Quality Control from Start to Finish (including PPAP)
Quick, Competitive Price Quotes
Close tolerance of custom & production run machined parts
Professional “Red Carpet Treatment ” Customer Service
Turnkey Solutions
Fast Turnaround Times
Personal attention and flexibility to complete your project from
start to finish done right, the first time on time, every time
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
33
Great Gear
by Mark LaBarbera
CALDWELL DEADSHOT CHAIRPOD
When I tell fellow SCI members that I
have one and I need to buy a few more,
they know the Caldwell DeadShot
ChairPod passed the field tests with flying colors. I used it from a ground blind
to take a Wisconsin deer with a TenPoint
crossbow, and gave it the Farmer Kev
test during pre-season sighting in near
Cuba City.
Our friend Larry Potterfield and his
team at Caldwell, including Kyle Smith,
delivered the
ChairPod for
SCI members
who want true
benchrest
accuracy from
a single shooting unit. No
need to bother with carrying chairs, sandbags
and separate rests out
to the ground blind or
the range to sight-in.
The ChairPod provides
all of that in one package; it has a
comfortable heavy-duty chair with a
built in post and swing arm assembly
that fully supports your gun or crossbow front and rear. SCI members now
can extend our effective shooting range
by stabilizing the entire weight of our
gun or crossbow in the ready position
while freeing up hands for binoculars,
one blind window to the next before
taking my shot. I need more ChairPods
for my elevated stands and other blinds.
I rely on Kevin Hinderman for honest
feedback. He’s not much for new
gadgets unless they are solid and
functional. So when he tested the
ChairPod and praised it, we knew it
passed the tough Farmer Kev test.
rangefinder or warm pockets. The innovative multi-bearing swing arm system
is smooth and stable left to right with
minimal body movement, and it has a
tension-adjustable up/down tilt function. I liked the way the chair silently
spins 360º to get you on the target. It
made the difference as I changed from
BATTENFELD BOGTAC-3S
SCI members are talking about the
Bog Pod bipods and tripods with the
Switcheroo Shooting System that
allows quick field changes to fit guns,
cameras and other accessories. The
Universal Shooting Rest is rubber
coated for silent, scratch-free performance, and it swivels 360º. I agree with
them that the three-section, highstrength, lightweight aluminum legs
provide a solid rest, but I especially like
the rapid-adjust lever locks. You can
get the TAC-3 Tactical Devil™ Tall
Tripod with matte black finish, like I did,
or you can buy the CLD version with
camo legs. Like my camera tripod that
we use for shooting “Deer Hunt
Wisconsin” TV, this unit
has rubber feet that
hat screw
up to reveal a steel
eel tip for
better grip on ice.
ce. SCI
members can use the
Tac-3 in sitting, kneeling,
neeling,
or standing positions
sitions
from 22” to 68” usable
sable
height when legss are
spread. It closes
oses
down to 31” to fit
fit in
the handy carr
rr y
bag and weighss
only about two
o
pounds.
Alpen Optics Supports Youth Efforts
You don’t need Alpen Optics to see the
bright-eyed, inquisitive and happy faces
of young people discovering conservation and the outdoors, but Alpen’s binoculars and spotting scopes have contributed greatly to the joint education
ef for ts of SCI, Outdoor Heritage
Education Center and other partners.
Through the generous donations of
Alpen’s Vickie Gardner, whose title is
VP of Stuff & Marketing, SCI, OHEC and
others have enriched the lives of thousands of students. Without fanfare or
grandstanding, Alpen pitches in. If you
look a few issues back at the HUNTERS
magazine cover, you’ll see Alpen’s spotting scope at the Camp Long Lake Boy
34
Scout range. At the SCI-supported
Midwest Outdoor Heritage Education
Expo, Alpen-brand optics were being
used to connect students with
nature.
What can
we do to say
thank you?
W h e n
you’re looking for rifle
scopes, binoculars and
spotting
scopes for
your kids and grandchildren or for local
fund-raisers, consider buying from
Vickie at alpenoptics.com.
Kyle Riesen with 40"
Gemsbok. Kyle and his
dad Matt booked the
hunt at the Wisconsin
Chapter banquet in
March. It was a great
father-son hunt that
will long be remembered.
“Thanks for a great trip
from start to finish”
MATT RIESEN
Our 2014 South Africa Eastern Cape hunt is in the books! Pat Kennedy
returned after a great hunt last year, Dick Feller and Chuck Dearth from
Monroe, Tom Fisher President of Badgerland Chapter SCI, and Matt Riesen
and his son Kyle rounded out our group. Also with us was Jake Yunk who
purchased the “Youth apprentice experience” at the Wisconsin Chapter
banquet. Some great trophies were taken, and a wonderful experience was had
by all. Camps, Staff, foods were all first class (as usual).
I have another group going in the summer of 2015 that I will be completely
escorting from Milwaukee. All travel, firearms permits and logistics are
handled for you. I will be in the camps and assisting every step of the way.
Its a small group and we have approx. 180,000 acres to hunt. We will be in
three separate camps with very personal service. Give me a call for more information. Couples welcome!
Dan Trawicki
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
For more information contact Dan Trawicki Ph 262-408-7632
email dantrawicki@hotmail.com or www.dansnorthwoodstaxidermy.com 35
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
Donated Mounts at
Home at "The Range"
Jim and Jason Babiasz of the
new indoor state-of-the-art
shooting facility The Range
of Richfield near Cabela's
accepted OHEC taxidermy
donated by SCI members
Tom Kosler, Alan Heth and
others for hunter safety, learn
to hunt and other educational
programs.
36
Legislative Update:
Keeping an Eye on Deer Hunt
by Bob Welch
Hopefully you and your hunting parties
had successful gun deer hunts.
Unfortunately, there’s a good chance
you didn’t. At the time of writing the
DNR has released preliminary numbers
for opening weekend, and they don’t
look good.
We always hope to see growing intere s t i n b u y i n g h u nti n g l i c e n s e s
but unfortunately 4% fewer licenses
were sold by opening day than
in 2013, (589,830 in 2014 vs. 615,872 in
2013). Those numbers aren’t good, but
initial harvest numbers are much worse.
A total of 90,281 deer were killed on
opening weekend, 18.5% less than the
110,979 killed through the first two days
of last year’s season. Of those, 48,926
were bucks (9% fewer than 2013) and
41,355 were antlerless (27% fewer than
2013)
There are several reasons for the
lower numbers including foggy and
rainy weather and fewer antlerless
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
permits, but there is no question that
the main factor is a smaller deer
population. Some of the drop in
antlerless numbers can be attributed
to the Northern Forest Zone being
bucks only this year, but even if we
look only at bucks the Nor thern
District is down 12%, the Southern
District is down 13%, and the West
Central District is down 11%.
Until we see the DNRs final deer registration numbers we won’t know for
sure, but if the rest of the 2014 harvest
numbers come back as low as
expected, 2014’s gun harvest could very
well be the worst since the early 80s.
Gun deer licenses sold by opening
day
2013: 615,872
2014: 589,830
The 2014 total ncludes 545,430 resident, 30,751 nonresident, 21,862 firsttime buyers
Deer registered opening weekend
2012: 134,772 Total
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
Pat Barwick shot this
Wisconsin whitetail
during the 2014 bow
season in Buffalo
County.
2013: 110,979 Total
2014: 90,281 Total
2012: 71,989 Bucks
2013: 53,865 Bucks
2014: 48,926 Bucks
2012: 62,783 Antlerless
2013: 56,932 Antlerless
2014: 41,355 Antlerless
COUNTY DEER ADVISORY COUNCILS
By the time you read this article,
all 72 County Deer Advisory Councils
(CDAC) will have had their final meetings of 2014. Each council will then
make their final recommendations
regarding three-year deer population
objectives.
Rather than numerical goals, goals
will now be one of three different
options: increase, decrease or stabilize.
The Natural Resources Board is scheduled to approve 2015-17 deer population objectives on February 25.
We continue to encourage hunters
like you to attend your County Deer
Advisory Council meetings, and there
are still openings on the councils in
some counties! You can view CDAC
membership lists online and contact
your county’s chairman if you’re interested in joining. Whether or not your
local CDAC is already full, all meetings
are open to the public.
CDAC Membership: http://dnr.wi.gov/
topic/hunt/documents/cdaccontact.
pdf
CDAC Meeting Schedule: http://dnr.
wi.gov/topic/hunt/documents/cdacmeetings.pdf.
This is a very direct way for you to
influence hunting in your county and we
hope more hunters like you seize the
opportunity!
37
Legislator Profile:
Rep. Al Ott Embraces Sporting Heritage
Al Ott, first elected in 1986, is currently
ser ving his 14th term as State
Representative for the 3rd Assembly
District. Prior to assuming office, Al
graduated from Brillion High School, the
University of Wisconsin’s Farm and
Industr y Shor t Course, and the
Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program.
Additionally, he owned and operated an
independent agri-business, was a
tenant dairy farmer and cash crop
farmer, and was employed for ten years
by Keller Structures, Inc. of Kaukauna.
Growing up in rural Calumet County,
he had the opportunity to do a lot of
hunting and fishing as a kid. Lured by
the adventure of hunting, fishing and
exploring, he spent a lot of time outdoors and developed a love of the land,
a respect for our natural resources, and
a respect for Wisconsin’s sporting
heritage.
As a kid, he did a lot of squirrel hunting on his grandfather’s farm. As a
young adult he hunted raccoon, deer,
ducks, and bear. Trapping has always
intrigued him, but he has yet to try it.
He still deer hunts, but has particularly
enjoyed turkey hunting in recent years.
Al didn’t really have a hunting/fishing
mentor as a kid. He was just driven by
the adventure of being outdoors and
enjoyed learning as he went. However,
as he raised his own family, he felt it
was really important to expose his children to the traditions of Wisconsin’s
sporting heritage. He and his wife,
Connie, made a point of taking their son
and three daughters hunting. Their
38
oldest daughter became quite a squirrel
and deer hunter. Another daughter is
still a very active and engaged deer
hunter, along with her husband. Their
son really enjoys fishing. It wasn’t only important to Al to give
his own children the opportunity to hunt
and fish. He also strives to spend as
much time outdoors with his eight
grandchildren as possible. Knowing
there is so much competing for their
time and attention – from athletics to
academics and television to technology
– he enjoys being able to spend some
quality time hunting and fishing with the
grandkids. He strongly believes that
Wisconsin’s great sporting traditions
bring families together and create
strong bonds.
Al served as a member of the
Assembly Committee on Natural
Resources from 1995 to 2005. It was
his great honor and privilege to chair
the Committee on Natural Resources
and Sporting Heritage during the last
session. He thoroughly enjoyed working with stakeholders in the sporting
community on a number of important
issues. Serving as Chairman really
renewed his appreciation for outdoor
recreation in Wisconsin. “We can all take pride in our great
natural resources and sporting heritage,” he said. “We have a great story to
tell here in Wisconsin.”
In the past, Ott participated in the
Brillion FFA Alumni Association, chaired
the Brillion Public Library Advisory
Board and ser ved on the Forest
Junction Volunteer Fire Department.
He was also a member of the EastCentral Wisconsin Regional Planning
Commission.
Ott was a member of the Calumet
County Board of Supervisors for 18
years, serving as Vice-Chair of the
Board for six years. During that time, he
served as Chair of the Agriculture/
Extension & Education Committee. He
also served as Vice-Chair of the Soil
and Water Conservation Committee,
which was later named the Land
Conservation Committee, and was
S e c reta r y of W i s c o n s i n’s L a n d
Conservation Board from 1984-1988.
Ott was the former Vice-Chair for the
Commission on Aging and served on
the Solid Waste Management Board,
both in Calumet County.
In July of 1990, Ott was chosen to
Chair the Executive Committee in planning the 1993 Calumet County Farm
Progress Days Show. Wisconsin Farm
Bureau Federation, Wisconsin
Federation of Cooperatives, Dairy
Business Association, Wisconsin Horse
Council, Wisconsin FFA and other organizations have recognized him for his
outstanding commitment to agriculture.
Ott was also selected to receive the first
annual Wisconsin Dair y Products
Association Appreciation Award based
on his outstanding support of the dairy
industry.
The Representative’s 2013-14
Assembly legislative committee assignments include Chairman of the Natural
Re source s & Spor ting Heritage
Committee, and membership on the
Agriculture Committee (Representative
Ott previously served as Chairman of
the Agriculture Committee from 19952008), Transportation Committee,
Consumer Protection Committee, and
the Tourism Committee.
Ott was born in Green Bay on June
19, 1949. He and Connie reside in
Forest Junction.
• Local servicing
• Residential lot loans
• Purchase and refinance loans
• Recreation land loans up to 80 acres
(without buildings)
• Second home financing throughout WI
• Construction loans with fixed rate options
• Construction loans with as little as 5% down
• Fast closings and low closing costs
76 locations including Brookfield
Call Fred Spiewak at (414) 350-7025.
SCI WI Treasurer and Bank Mutual Loan Officer (NMLS#: 747030)
bankmutual.com/fspiewak
bankmutual.com/fspiewak
Rep. Ott helped 10-year-old grandson shoot Cole’s first turkey in 2010.
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015
39
SCI Wisconsin Chapter
c/o Janean Gehl
W157N10472 Fieldstone Pass
Germantown, WI 53022
Non-Profit Org.
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WI SCI HUNTERS - January/February 2015