Outdoors - Pierce County Journal

‘Rejoice together:’ Lots of hands get involved to make RFSD forest pavilion happen

RIVER FALLS — River Falls School District and school/community forest representatives gathered a crowd at the RFSD forest to unveil a pavilion Oct. 15. The pavilion is funded two-thirds by … more

By Andrew Harrington | 10/22/25

My last catch and keep trout outing of the 2025 season yielded this nice 16-inch Brown Trout.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Goodbye, old friend

I always look forward to a new outdoor season because it brings new opportunities and renewed excitement. A great example is the spring turkey season. The late archery season ends months … more

By Dave Beck | 10/22/25

The iconic picture that has to be the most publicized photo in the history of musky fishing.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Legendary musky lore

The calendar says it’s time to bow hunt, but the weather says it’s still musky fishing season. I’ve done both but honestly, the warmer it is the more likely you will find me on … more

By Dave Beck | 10/15/25

Tree and shrub seedlings from a state nursery are available for purchase.

DNR tree and shrub seedling sales begin

MADISON – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is accepting seedling orders from Wisconsin landowners for trees and shrubs to be planted in spring 2026, starting Oct. 6, 2025. … more

10/8/25

There’s nothing like hearing duck wings beating in the predawn darkness while waiting for the hunt to legally open.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Duck hunter for life

Another outdoor season has snuck up on us, or at least me. Did you know that it is duck hunting season? Given our unseasonably warm weather over the past couple of weeks it’s hard to … more

By Dave Beck | 10/8/25

This map shows the prevalence of bears in areas of Wisconsin. In Pierce County, bears are common.

Outdoor Tails & Trails: Baiting a bear

Way back in 2006 I harvested my one and only black bear. I had been fortunate enough to hook up with some hound guys and they put me onto a good bear. Since it was my first bear hunt … more

By Dave Beck | 10/1/25

Lights Out Alerts are issued by Purdue University’s AeroEco Lab. High levels of bird migration are expected across eastern Wisconsin tonight, across nearly all of the state on Sept. 24, and across northern and eastern Wisconsin on Sept. 25, raising risks for birds.

Lights Out Alert issued statewide in Wisconsin for Wednesday night, Sept. 24

VIROQUA - White-hot levels of bird migration are forecast for Wisconsin on Wednesday night, Sept. 24, spurring Wisconsin bird conservation groups and Dark Skies International chapters to urge … more

9/24/25

Participants in the 2025 Data Analysis and Monitoring Crew Program (DAM Crew), stand in in the Kinnickinnic River. The project, which monitors the ecological health of the river, is one of seven water quality projects involving UW-River Falls supported by a new round of funding from the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin.

UWRF among recipients of Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin funding

RIVER FALLS – The Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin has awarded $324,944 to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls for seven water quality projects that the university is either leading or … more

9/24/25

Dave Beck and “half-brother” Dan on their Colorado elk hunting expedition.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: The allure of elk hunting

My Colorado archery elk hunt is in the rearview mirror. The week flew by faster than the elk that blew over the crest of the mountain on the last day of the hunt. That’s a bit of a … more

By Dave Beck | 9/24/25

West Nile Virus confirmed in St. Croix County

St. Croix County Public Health is encouraging residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites as they report this year’s first human infections of West Nile virus (WNV) in three residents … more

9/17/25

Audit confirms DNR’s accountable spending; WiWF calls for unity and solutions

POYNETTE — The nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau (Report 25-15) confirms Wisconsin DNR is managing the Fish and Wildlife Account dollars responsibly and within legislative parameters: the … more

9/17/25

I sent half-brother Dan this picture as proof that I was taking this last-minute decision to go elk hunting seriously. Maybe I also thought that it would help motivate him to do the same.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Getting in mountain shape

My fall outdoor plans have taken a couple of twists and turns and I think everything is pretty much nailed down now. For a while I wasn’t sure if I was going to have to renew my passport … more

By Dave Beck | 9/17/25

Violation at Ridge Breeze damages neighboring property

PIERCE COUNTY — In July, the Wisconsin DNR was notified of a violation on-site at Ridge Breeze Dairy, the Pierce County mega-dairy that is proposing an expansion to 6,500 cows. During … more

9/10/25

The St. Croix River Watershed Clean Food & Water Forum will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025 at Camp St. Croix RCU Center, Hudson. The event will be held in partnership with the Camp St. Croix Fall Harvest Festival & Pizza Night (2–7 p.m.)

St. Croix River Watershed Clean Food & Water Forum is Oct. 4

St. Croix Citizens Uniting for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (St. Croix CURES), Wisconsin Farmers Union and Emerald Clean Water for All are hosting an event bringing citizens together to … more

9/10/25

Dr. Sam at Ellsworth Chiropractic fixed my dinged up shoulder, which allowed me to use my compound bow again.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Don’t settle for ‘this is as good as it gets’

Have you ever shared with others a problem that you are having only to find out that someone else is dealing with the same thing? With archery season right around the corner today’s topic … more

By Dave Beck | 9/10/25

The legendary Jordan buck was harvested in January 1914 in Danbury.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: The Jordan Buck

Archery season is just around the corner and although the weather may not act like it, the calendar is proof that it is time. Today it’s all deer talk. In Wisconsin, the 2025 general … more

By Dave Beck | 9/3/25

After jumping in behind my friend’s tangled lure, the musky he’d been chasing hit my lure.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: What I did on my summer vacation

Last week I told you about the start of my summer fishing vacation. A quick recap: on my way to the Winnipeg River in Ontario, Canada, I stopped to fish Lake Vermilion in northern … more

By Dave Beck | 8/27/25

Dave went musky fishing in two countries in one day, thanks to a stop at Lake Vermilion on the way to Canada.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Two muskies, two countries

I am at the point of the summer when musky fishing is the focus of all outdoor outings. Chasing walleyes on Pepin or trout on the Rush are awesome outings but they are number two and three on … more

By Dave Beck | 8/20/25

The first musky of the year is always the hardest to catch.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Avenging the musky jinx

Back in January, I told you that the hardest shed antler to find is always the very first one of the year. It seems like I walk more miles to find that first one than I do to find all the rest, … more

By Dave Beck | 8/13/25

Trail Cam Finds

The antlers on the white-tailed deer have now grown to the point where I can tell a buck from a doe. It makes it way more interesting checking on those cell cam photos every morning to see how much … more

By Dave Beck | 7/30/25