Outdoors - Pierce County Journal

I’m currently archery elk hunting with my brothers Whammer and Garrett and friend Dan in the Colorado Rockies.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Bets on bagging a bull

The last couple of weeks I have been on tape delay, so to speak, because it’s archery elk hunting time and I turned in my homework early. This is post-dated homework but fear not, … more

By Dave Beck | 9/21/23

The Thayer IV is a prominent part of the movie, “On Golden Pond,” featuring Henry Fonda and Jane Fonda.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Picking a boat name is hard

I’ve had my current boat for about four years now and have often thought that I needed to give it a name. I have yet to do that so maybe just talking about it here will turn my words … more

By Dave Beck | 9/14/23

This is the largest fisher I have ever seen, in person or on camera, caught on my trail cam on Aug. 17.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: An impressive adversary

Hello September! For me and a lot of my outdoor brothers and sisters that means a transition from summer fishing to fall hunting. Not that I would ever tire of fishing, but I do look … more

By Dave Beck | 9/7/23

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, and its contractor, LS Marine, Inc., of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., have begun construction on the Upper Pool 4 habitat restoration project, near Bay City

Corps begins construction on Upper Pool 4 project near Bay City

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, and its contractor, LS Marine, Inc., of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., have begun construction on the Upper Pool 4 habitat … more

8/31/23

Becoming a volunteer instructor is a great way to give back to local communities and have a part in shaping the next crop of Wisconsin hunters.

DNR seeking volunteer hunter education instructors

MADISON – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is seeking volunteers passionate about promoting safe, responsible and ethical hunting practices to serve as certified hunter education … more

8/31/23

You can tell I spent a lot of time outside this summer by the tan lines from my sandals.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: The best parts of summer

Fall is heading our way and it will officially be here on Sept. 23. Unofficially, summer ends on Monday, Labor Day. It seems like it was only weeks ago when we celebrated the best day of … more

By Dave Beck | 8/31/23

Jill Coleman Wasik, associate professor of environmental science who leads the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin effort at UW-River Falls, explains measuring water in the soil to students on May 25 at the university-operated Mann Valley Farm. UW-River Falls is receiving $155,441 in state funding to conduct additional student research on water.

UWRF among recipients of Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin funding

RIVER FALLS– The Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin has awarded $155,441 to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls for five water quality projects which the university is either leading or … more

8/24/23

I finally caught a musky this year on Lake Vermilion. Even though the flash didn’t work properly for the photo, even that turned into a pretty cool thing.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: A homerun

I spent two weeks on Lake Vermilion this year, but I could easily take a month to tell you all about it. Fishing Vermilion is the Super Bowl of the musky season for me because it’s the … more

By Dave Beck | 8/24/23

I was able to witness 14-year-old Talon catch his first musky during my time at Lake Vermilion in northern Minnesota.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Talon's first musky

My time on Lake Vermilion came to an end much too quickly. I headed home with some great memories and many stories to share, including a few with Uncle Frank. I am happy to report that he … more

By Dave Beck | 8/17/23

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Epic Uncle Frank

Time flies when you’re having fun and I am about to have a lot more of it. I am in the process of packing for an outing on Lake Vermilion in northern Minnesota. It’s actually my … more

By Dave Beck | 8/10/23

FLOTSAM! River Circus to appear in Hastings

FLOTSAM is a troupe of musicians, puppeteers, and circus artists who travel on a ramshackle raft giving free performances in riverfront towns along the way. During the tour, our boat is our mode of … more

8/6/23

Pine Coulee is located adjacent to the Mississippi River south of Freedom Park and Pine Glen Cemetery in Prescott.

Freedom Park column: Prescott landmark rediscovered

Have you ever misplaced something dear to you or hunted for anything in particular and wouldn’t give up until you found it? Most everyone has heard or read about someone going to a garage … more

By Jeff Ruehle, Board Chair | 8/3/23

One of the first lures that I bought was this black topwater lure. I called it the Black Cigar. It became so worn out that I had to retire it, but it was given new life by Justin Buchholtz of Haymaker Lures.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: The Black Cigar

I caught my first musky 27 years ago. It was just after sunset when the wind had calmed. I hadn’t seen a fish all day long and I was thinking about just getting off the water and … more

By Dave Beck | 8/3/23

My buddy Clay was the Crappie Boat Champion during our outing on the lake, making him more than “boat worthy.”

Outdoor Tales & Trails : A record-setting day

A couple of years ago I met a young man named Clay who is now 12 years old. I liked him immediately. I was impressed with his maturity, good manners and just how dang nice he was. It … more

By Dave Beck | 7/27/23

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Sciences reminds ATV/UTV riders to think smart before you start and always ride safely.

Wisconsin ATV/UTV helmet and seat belt laws

The Pierce County ATV/UTV Association (PCAA) would like to remind ATV and UTV riders of the importance of wearing helmets and seat belts while riding. Any person under 18 must wear a DOT … more

7/20/23

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Training for the mountains

Man, it’s July already. Corn is way past knee high and the summer days are going by way faster than I would like. Instead of February lasting longer during leap year, I would prefer … more

By Dave Beck | 7/20/23

DNR issues statewide air quality advisory due to Canadian wildfire smoke

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has issued a statewide air quality advisory due to wildfire smoke coming from Western Canada. The advisory is in … more

7/14/23

Dave Beck spent time with friends recently making wing bone turkey calls. The process took a little more than one hour.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Wing bone turkey calls

Recently I spent a pretty fantastic evening with some friends. No one was on their cell phone or working at the computer. There wasn’t even a television or radio playing in … more

By Dave Beck | 7/13/23

Plastic tubes protect the saplings that were planted earlier this year. In the background are some of the original plantings from 20 years ago.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Repaying Mother Nature – and Big River Rich

It’s chillin’ and grillin’ season and I should be talking about fishing with the long weekend ahead but I have other fish to fry, figuratively speaking. So, you know how good … more

By Dave Beck | 7/6/23

Outdoors Tales & Trails: A crappie thrashing

While waiting for the muskies to get more active, I have trended toward crappie fishing. It’s not that I can’t catch a musky this early in the season, it’s just that it … more

6/29/23