Outdoors - Pierce County Journal

These morels and trout made for a wonderful lunch.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Not quite a hat trick, but a great morning

Now that warm weather is here to stay, there are just too many things to do and not enough time to do them. Even with the extended daylight hours, it’s tough getting after everything but I … more

By Dave Beck | 6/1/23

This week, I decided to try writing the column from the turkey blind, so you could be with me in the heart of the action.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Writing from the turkey blind

Last fall I wrote a column while deer hunting from Big River Rich’s deer stand. It got some great reviews including but not limited to my mail carrier who said, and I quote, “nice … more

By Dave Beck | 5/25/23

Johnny Johnson, council president of the Prairie Island Indian Community (left) and Gov. Tony Evers greet one another at the Upper Pool 4 Islands Complex Project groundbreaking ceremony May 16 in Bay City.

Years of dogged determination

BAY CITY – Bay City’s Saratoga Park was full of government officials and community members Tuesday, May 16 for the historic Upper Pool 4 Islands Complex Project groundbreaking ceremony … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 5/25/23

Outdoor Tales & Trails: A fine mess of trout

I have been talking turkeys for weeks and then I finally got to go hunting but I can’t let the Wisconsin Fishing Opener come and go without paying my respects. I celebrated the tradition … more

By Dave Beck | 5/18/23

Dredging has begun in the Mississippi River at Bay City as part of the Upper Pool 4 Islands Complex Project. Crews use pipes to remove sand from areas to be dredged. They will use the sand to construct islands.

Dredging project begins in Bay City

BAY CITY – Work has begun on the Upper Pool 4 Islands Complex Project in Bay City, celebrated by a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday, May 16 with Gov. Tony Evers in attendance. The U.S. Army … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 5/18/23

(From left): Doug Weiss, Ty Fisher, Samantha Bowen, and Nancy (Matzek) Weiss are asking people to sign a petition asking Pierce County for a 12-month moratorium on CAFO expansions.

Petition aims to put moratorium on CAFO expansion

TOWN OF SALEM – Imagine being inexplicably ill for years with vomiting, stomachaches, headaches. You go to doctor after doctor, but they can’t figure out what’s wrong. Your children … more

By Sarah Nigbor | 5/18/23

The perfect morning for my first day of the spring hunt.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: 'I can't wait for Day 3'

Are you tired of me whining while I am waiting for my turkey season to get here? Well guess what? It’s finally here and I have some real live turkey hunting action to tell you … more

By Dave Beck | 5/11/23

To pass time until my turkey season, I decided to take part in trout catch-and-release time.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Tom turf war vs. trout time

Over the past few weeks, I have been biding my time waiting for my turkey hunting season to begin. I’m not very patient when it comes to waiting. To make matters worse it seems … more

By Dave Beck | 5/4/23

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Everything turkey you need to know

The first turkey season is in the books, the second one is underway, and a welcoming spring season rolls on. Is there anything else to talk about? I didn’t think so. The … more

By Dave Beck | 4/27/23

Town of Salem resident Samantha Bowen staffed a booth at Earth Fest for GROWW Action Saturday, April 22 at the UW-River Falls University Center. The group was gathering signatures on a petition to stop the expansion of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) in Pierce County, such as a potential 5,000 cow operation in the town of Salem.

Earth Fest’s second event draws big crowds

More than 2,000 attendees filled the UW-River Falls University Center Saturday, April 22 for Earth Fest. The cold, wet weather moved the fest from Glen Park to UWRF, but didn't seem to dampen … more

4/27/23

The benches and tables at Point Douglas Park off Prescott were underwater Saturday as the St. Croix registered major flood stage at Stillwater.

LMC approves policy for temp vehicle storage during flooding

ELLSWORTH – With major flooding on the Mississippi River overtaking buildings and vehicles along the Great River Road, people are having to move campers and other recreational vehicles to safer … more

4/27/23

My nephew Reid with his turkey, a reminder to send in your photos as well.

Outdoor Tales & Trails : Gobble gobble, it’s turkey time

I should have written about turkey hunting before now because the youth hunt took place last weekend. In addition to that, the first of six seasons starts on Wednesday with the last season going … more

By Dave Beck | 4/20/23

Grace Coggio, right, UW-River Falls sustainability fellow and communication studies associate professor, speaks with attendees about water quality during last year’s inaugural Earth Fest in River Falls. This year’s event is set for April 22.

One year after its start, interest in Earth Fest continues to grow

RIVER FALLS – In the year since the initial Earth Fest occurred in River Falls, the much-discussed topic of sustainability has become even more so, making this year’s fest especially … more

4/13/23

Like this beautiful sunset over the water, the sun is setting on winter.

Outdoors Tales & Trails: The sun is setting on winter

It seems we have finally emerged out of the long white cover of winter. Over the last couple of weeks, I have posted pictures online showing signs of spring as a reminder that we are close and … more

By Dave Beck | 4/13/23

The 2,000 pound, 20-year-old eagle nest came crashing down around 7:53 a.m. on the morning of April 2nd. The nest contained a chick which was found deceased a few hours after the fall.

Local internet sensation crashes to a heartbreaking end

20 years ago, a pair of American Bald Eagles chose a location for their nest. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) eventually put up their ‘EagleCam’ that gave a 24/7 look … more

By Bruce Karnick | 4/7/23

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Testing the luck downriver

Have you driven by any of the boat landings near Red Wing, Minn., lately? Holy smoked carp! It’s crazy how many boats are hitting the water these days. There have literally been … more

By Dave Beck | 4/6/23

Heavy snow across the upper Midwest this winter will make it very likely that the upper Mississippi River will flood this spring, according to National Weather Service forecasters.

Heavy, wet snow raises risk of spring flooding in upper Mississippi River basin

Heavy, wet snow that pounded upper Wisconsin and Minnesota is expected to cause flooding this spring along the upper Mississippi River, and it could be considerable. The National Weather Service … more

By Madeline Heim, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | 3/30/23

The Minnesota DNR has a bald eagle webcam, which went live December 2022. In February, the mother eagle laid two eggs and kept them safe during a 13-inch blizzard.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Bald eagle webcam gives up close look

My grandma Tilly grew up in Minnesota and when I was just a young kid, she told me the biggest whopper story ever and I bought it hook, line and sinker. My only defense is that I was really … more

3/30/23

A stop at the LAX Reproductions booth at the Minnesota Muskie Expo is a must each year.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Another harbinger of spring

I can’t forecast the weather for this week, but I do have a warm weather topic and given our crazy long winter, that’s the best I can offer. I spent a few hours at the Minnesota … more

By Dave Beck | 3/23/23

My brother Garret and I had a laugh over him almost tripping on this deer shed antler.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: My favorite place

A long time ago I took an English Composition course. I can remember it like I can remember the last fish I caught, or the last shed deer antler I found. There were two assignments from … more

By Dave Beck | 3/16/23