A whisper came through the haze of my dreams last Saturday morning, “The robins are mad.” It wasn’t a dream, but my better-half reflecting on listening to the early birds. The weather has been warm enough that we have been sleeping with the bedroom window open since late February. I mumbled something spaced out like, “Huh?” She said that the robins were mad because they got snowed on. When I was able to get an eye unglued, I could see we had a frosting of white covering the lawn. Had I flown all the way up from some warm, sunny place and gotten snowed on, I would probably have been mad too. Actually, robins being mad could also mean that they are crazy for returning so early. We have been seeing robins around here for a month. As far as being mad about the snow and 33 degree temps, I bet they have company; this morning there were probably 50 or more pelicans on Stoddard Bay. What’s wrong with Key Biscayne?
Okay, this is a “just saying” thought: do any of you as old or older than me remember pelicans flying in and staying until fall? I grew up on the Mississippi and I don’t remember seagulls being around the dams and bays when I was a kid either. Just sayin’.
It is finally time to go live for Go Wild! We saw a news story on the DNR’s new GO Wild licensing system this morning. The “Wake Up Wisconsin” reporter said the new system was NOT getting rave reviews. According to the report, consumers and license sales personnel don’t like it much. After what was called a “soft opening” by the DNR, the online based licensing system went fully live on March 17. I asked the manager at my favorite big boy toy store, a.k.a. sporting goods store about Go Wild and his comment was unprintable in a family newspaper, except that it ended with “. . . sucks!” He said that while it is up and running, there needs to be more training for sales personnel and the system is slow and there is too much data to hand enter so it takes more time to get a license or permit. He said a few DNR personnel and wardens drop by to talk once in awhile and while they are muzzled by their bosses, off the record they don’t like this much either. I asked my friend, “Aren’t extra turkey tags going on sale on Monday?” He pictured lines out the door because it takes so long. He also asked me not to come in that day and try to buy my conservation patron license and extra turkey tag as that license takes a lot longer and will upset the people in line for permits behind me. He suggested I buy it Saturday or try online.
I did buy my conservation patron license Saturday morning - online. I admit I was fully prepared to be angry and frustrated by this system, but when all was said and done, it didn’t seem all that different than the old system to me. When I had finally added in all the data and checked off all the boxes regarding permits and such, I was able to print off a receipt and also save my license and permits as a .pdf file and print those off too. I was a little concerned that there were no antlerless tags with the gun and bow deer licenses. Perhaps they will be added when the county deer committees have finished their meetings and made their recommendations. Deer season is a few months away, but it is never far from my mind. There was a convenience fee of 1.75% for using a credit card, but the $2.78 is less than the flat $3 fee from last year. I think not having back tags is alright, but it could be a bad thing; remember a couple of years ago when a man went berserk in the north woods and killed and wounded a group of other hunters; they were able to get his back tag number and use it to identify the killer. Just sayin’.
Why ante up $165 for a Conservation Patron License? I save money and I have all my licenses and permits in one. The Conservation Patron License includes: an Annual Fishing License, Great Lakes Trout & Salmon Stamp, Inland Trout Stamp, Sturgeon Hook & Line Inland, Sturgeon Hook & Line WI-MI, Small Game License, Pheasant Stamp, Gun Deer Hunting License, Archery License, Crossbow License, Trapping License, Otter Application, Fisher Application, Spring Turkey Application, Spring Turkey License (permit required), Turkey Stamp, Fall Turkey Application, Fall Turkey License (permit required), Early Goose Permit (upon request), Exterior or Horicon Goose Permit (upon request), Waterfowl Stamp, Annual Park Sticker, Annual State Parks Trail Pass, and Admission to Heritage Hill State Park. It’s a bunch of stuff I do, and now I’m covered - except for a federal waterfowl stamp which costs another $25. Unless the DNR is changing how they handle this license, I have always liked it.
Scout and I went for a walk up the ridge on Saturday afternoon. We walked up the Grouse Hollow path. Not far up, a ruffed grouse flushed in the cedars down the hill from us. A little while later, I heard another grouse drumming up in the hollow. The turkeys were calling a bit. I heard a gobbler several times. Up in the Christmas tree food plot, the critters have trimmed the tubers down into the ground and there is a lot of new greenery already growing. There are two critter holes with piles of dirt about 20 yards apart. I figure woodchucks are the culprits, but it could be badgers, but probably not. We met Ellen up on top by the old hay barn. She said she heard what she figured were deer disappearing down over the point of the ridge. I heard a hen turkey calling down the hill at about the same time. A gobbler answered her from I figure maybe a hundred yards away. Anyway, we walked down the ridge road together laughing at the antics of our big brown dog and discussing some of the work that needs to be done around the woods and trails this spring.
Until next time, get out - turkey hunters remember that leftover tags are now on sale for Zone 1. The DNR/Conservation Congress Annual Hearings are April 11 at Viroqua High School at 7 PM. The Friends of Pool 9 are organizing their annual river clean up for April 30. For more information or to sign up, contact Kim at 608-606-3691. Finally, how about those Badgers?! Go Bucky! Enjoy.
