Outdoors - Pierce County Journal

Dave2’s cabin in Douglas County might be rustic, but it’s the coolest cabin I’ve ever stayed in.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Falco’s perfect point

Have you ever watched someone doing something and make it look so easy that you thought to yourself: “Heck I can do that!” For example, you watch a good golfer poke the ball … more

By Dave Beck | 11/5/25

Frank Dosdall of Bay City walks along a shrinking Lake Pepin in 2022. The lake on the Mississippi River has been getting shallower because of sediment eroding from upstream.

As Mississippi River's Lake Pepin shrinks, project will study role of ravines

Lake Pepin, the largest naturally occurring lake on the Mississippi River, is a beloved resource and important economic engine for the Wisconsin and Minnesota towns that border it. In the … more

By Madeline Heim/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | 10/29/25

Progress is being made in the Bay City Dredging Project. Access channels around the new islands are being dredged. The fine sediments removed from the river are then placed on top of the islands — creating rich soil where plants can take root and thrive.

Bay City Restoration Project: Big progress on the river

BAY CITY – If you’ve been out on Lake Pepin lately, you may have noticed major changes underway near Bay City. The Bay City Habitat Restoration Project is moving full steam ahead — … more

10/29/25

Editor Sarah Nigbor’s Volkswagen Atlas was totaled after a collision with a deer. The vehicle had 275,000 miles on it. Quinn Motors was kind enough to provide an estimate when she limped the vehicle to their shop.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Deer vs. vehicle season

It’s the time of year for some serious hunting but that’s not what I’m talking about today. I’m talking about the deer/vehicle collision season. When a deer decides … more

By Dave Beck | 10/29/25

‘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

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

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

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

Catching this 20-inch trout made a day of trout fishing a reason to smile.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: The eye candy of fish

I’ve gone trout fishing several times this summer, I just haven’t told you about those outings. It’s probably a good thing because those outings were pretty uneventful. At … more

By Dave Beck | 7/23/25

Dave2 holds up the trophy of the day on Lake Pepin.

Outdoor Tales & Trails: A Wisconsin legend, the lake sturgeon

The fishing season rolls on and I have been hitting the lakes, rivers, and streams. From crappies to muskies and everything in between, I’ve been a multi-species fish hunter this … more

By Dave Beck | 7/16/25

Falco has very specific taste when it comes to licking fish, with northern Pike being his favorite

Outdoor Tales & Trails: Fish licker

You may remember me telling you about my old classmate/friend Dave. In this forum I will refer to him as Dave2. That’s not to say he occupies a position lower or behind me, it’s … more

By Dave Beck | 7/3/25