Outdoors - Pierce County Journal

Mussel propagation biologists Isabel Boyce, left, and Lindsay Ohlman release federally endangered Higgins Eye and state-threatened Mucket mussels on the Mississippi River in St. Paul, Minn. on Sept. 16, 2026.

Mussels regaining a foothold in the upper Mississippi River after decades of decline

At first glance, the boat’s crew looks ready to embark on a fishing trip. Their boat is equipped with a hefty rectangular cooler, a couple of white buckets and neon orange life jackets. They chat … more

By Claire Carlson, MinnPost | 11/11/26

Deer registration stations used to be a community hub during the state’s nine-day gun deer season. That camaraderie was lost when everything went online.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Bring back deer registration stations

I was searching on the World Wide Web when I came across something that took me down a seriously deep rabbit hole that I’m still trying to get out of. My internet dive went so deep that I … more

By Dave Beck | 11/11/26

Darla Fischer, sons Tim and Ted, and family friends Steve Pechacek, John Branshaw and Vicki Stutske recently went on a safari in Limpopo, South Africa.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Half a world away

An adventure is what you make it and for the Fischer family they made it a good one. Darla, the matriarch of the family, and her sons Tim and Ted recently went on a safari in Limpopo, South … more

By Dave Beck | 11/4/26

I always enjoy woodcock hunting in Douglas County with my buddy Dave and his bird dog Falco.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Hunting in the Northwoods

A fall drive to Douglas County has become an annual trip. For reference, Douglas County starts at Superior, Wis. and moves south along the Minnesota border for say, a half hour … more

By Dave Beck | 10/28/26

Deer carcass disposal sites offered in RF; sight-in help offered

RIVER FALLS – For a fifth year, the River Falls Sportsman's Club, the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources and City of River Falls are offering deer hunters a safe, local solution for disposal of … more

10/21/26

For the first time in years, I went duck hunting. The morning was a success.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Back in the swamp

Last Saturday I did something that I haven’t done in years: I went duck hunting. Before I continue, here’s some back story. I grew up so close to the banks of the Mississippi River that … more

By Dave Beck | 10/21/26

My first deer hunting outing of the year was in a ground blind next to a hay field, where I had a great view of several feeding deer.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Undetected in my first archery hunt

When I returned from my archery elk hunt in Colorado it was easy to sit back and wait for things to heat up here before jumping into hunting mode again. By heating up I mean the daytime deer … more

By Dave Beck | 10/14/26

My brothers and I developed the Vertical Pain Index when hunting elk in the Colorado Rockies. It’s similar to the wind chill factor.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Runner’s high in my first real race

Today I am going to the edges of this outdoor column to talk about something that is only semi related. I haven’t always been focused on staying fit but more or less relied on being active enough … more

By Dave Beck | 10/7/26

Leonard Place with the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award he received from the Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin.

Leonard Place receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Leonard Place, of Oshkosh, has received the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin (BRAW). President Steve Sample noted: “Leonard’s … more

10/1/26

Outdoor Tales & Trails: The Vertical Pain Index

*This is Part 2 of a recent Colorado archery elk hunt. The older I get, the higher and the steeper the mountains get. When I was younger and full of boundless energy the … more

By Dave Beck | 9/30/26

Whammer, Dave and elk brother Dave took to the mountains of Colorado for an archery elk hunt.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Hunting in the Rockies

It’s elk hunting time again. No, I did not draw one of the coveted Wisconsin tags. Even though the DNR issues only 10 tags annually, I still apply every year because hunting the Clam Lake … more

By Dave Beck | 9/23/26

Mollie’s Pack is a pack of wolves that has migrated out of Yellowstone Park into Wyoming cattle country.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Mollie’s Pack unpacked

Have you heard of Mollie’s Pack? It’s getting a lot of publicity lately and this is a story that has two distinct sides and not much of a gray area. First some information to help you … more

By Dave Beck | 9/16/26

The scuffs, stains and creases in this Wilson George Brett A2124 are not imperfections that need to be erased. They are reminders of summers spent playing baseball, of a glove shaped with my dad when I was a kid, and of a life that has happened in the decades since. At 52, neither the glove nor its owner needs to look new again, we just need to take care of what needs taking care of, accept the wear we've earned, and see what we've still got

I ain’t dead yet

"I ain't dead yet." That was Dad's way of saying yes before he passed September 10. 2024. It wasn't morbid. Quite the opposite. It meant, let's go. Let's have some fun. Let's do something. We're here today and there is no guarantee about tomorrow, so why would we sit around waiting for life to happen? more

By Bruce Karnick | 9/10/26

Boaters: Heed low water levels this fall

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources encourages boaters to take extra care at public water access sites throughout the state, where ongoing drought conditions continue to cause low water … more

9/9/26

Deer heart and beaver backstrap are two of my favorite cuts of meat. Both are delicious if prepared correctly.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Outdoor eats

We are on the doorstep of the fall hunting seasons and OTT will celebrate that with a review of a couple of outdoor eats. There are two cuts of meat that used to be staples back in the day but … more

By Dave Beck | 9/9/26

Chicken of the woods mushrooms are found on oak trees in quiet, undisturbed areas.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Chicken of the woods

Two weeks ago, I posted a short video online of some chicken of the woods and the viewership went through the roof. Well, I heard you loud and clear so that is today’s topic. Here’s … more

By Dave Beck | 9/2/26

St. Croix County Public Health is encouraging residents to take steps to prevent illness after West Nile virus (WNV) was detected in mosquitoes collected in St. Croix County.

West Nile Virus detected in St. Croix County mosquitoes

ST. CROIX COUNTY – St. Croix County Public Health is encouraging residents to take steps to prevent illness after West Nile virus (WNV) was detected in mosquitoes collected in St. Croix County. … more

8/26/26

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Better than no fishing at all

Last week I shared some Canadian musky stories about my net man Ricky because, well, he had a terrific trip. I had a terrific trip being his net man, which is the next best thing to being the … more

By Dave Beck | 8/26/26

Ricky the net man caught the biggest fish of his career in the Kenora region of Canada, a musky measuring 50 inches and weighing 40 pounds.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Heading north to Kenora

For a few years I traveled way up to northern Minnesota for musky fishing. This year local lake temperatures have been in the 80s and even upper 80s spelling almost death when trying to release … more

By Dave Beck | 8/19/26

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Inspiring young people to love the outdoors

Two weeks ago, the Wisconsin DNR announced a new program called R3. That stands for Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation of hunters, anglers, trappers and shooting sports … more

By Dave Beck | 8/13/26