Fall is a magical time for all hunters and a time to count our blessings that we live in a state with ample hunting land and abundant hunting opportunities.

Whether you like hunting waterfowl, deer, bears, small game or upland birds like pheasants or ruffed grouse, Wisconsin is truly paradise.

The saddest thing I can imagine is a kid without a pocketknife.

Next in line on my Sad List would be a young hunter in the woods without a decent hunting knife (or two or three).

Growing up in the non-PC world of the 1960s and 1970s, I carried a pocketknife everywhere, including school. What self-respecting Cub Scout or Webelo would be caught without his multiblade Scout knife?

When I finished a challenging 3-D archery course Aug. 16 with fellow traditional bowhunter Larry Morrow, I had one small victory — I had not lost a single arrow.

If you’ve been observing this year’s crop of fawns following Mama around the pastures and field edges lately, you’re probably excited to see two or even three young ones in tow.

It’s a good news/bad news story as it means plenty of opportunities for hunters this fall but potential disaster for motorists; and it’s a reflection that we still haven’t done a great job controlling herd growth to match carrying capacity.

Jim Schoenike didn’t think he had much chance to secure a nearly $90,000 federal grant to help his small bow club expand its outdoor range and facilities, but hoped he might get a few thousand.

Using his background in the financial industry, he filled out a detailed application that included estimated costs to expand and enhance the range and submitted it in July 2024.

We try to keep our family vacations real and natural. That means we avoid Disney World and other theme parks like the plague. The natural world is so much more unpredictable, and it’s reality, not fake concrete waterfalls and $20 plastic mugs.