Waterfowl Expo ready to take flight
For waterfowlers and the species they love, 2021 has been a very good year so far in the Badger State.
The Wisconsin budget signed by Gov. Tony Evers earlier this month included not only a price increase in the state waterfowl stamp, a move that had been sought for more than a decade by leading conservation groups and that will raise additional funds for wetland restorations to aid ducks and geese and other wildlife, but also a renewal of the Knowles Nelson Stewardship Program, a key funding source for purchases of public land and recreational easements in the state.
Further, the 2021 Wisconsin breeding waterfowl survey found an increase in ducks and geese.
Another treat is on the horizon. But we're not talking about flights of migrating mallards, at least not yet.
A new event called the Waterfowl Hunters Expo will be held Aug. 28 in Oshkosh.
The gathering will include seminars, vendors with the latest gear, activities and contests. It will be spread indoors and out at Sunnyview Expo Center.
The one-day "super event" is being created by waterfowl hunters for waterfowl hunters, said Bryan Muche, a volunteer helping plan the expo.
"It's being organized with the hope that the sharp line between visitor, exhibitor and seminar speaker is blurred, and this becomes a meeting place for everyone to engage, share and make this event truly their own," Muche said.
After the coronavirus pandemic canceled indoor sports shows and most other large public gatherings for most of the last 16 months, the timing of this new event could be perfect.
Many Wisconsinites will remember the former Great Outdoors Festival held during the summer in Oshkosh, as well as the former Waterfowl Hunters' Conference held in March in Stevens Point or Wausau.
The Waterfowl Hunters Expo will combine elements of both, as well as new features, said Bruce Ross, lead organizer for the expo.
Dogs (on a leash) are welcomed, and a youth zone will be set up to entertain and educate kids.
"We're trying to make it easy for the waterfowl hunter to come to the event with their family, knowing that everyone will have some fun things to do," Ross said.
The expo is being sponsored by the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Ducks Unlimited and Delta Waterfowl.
An impressive list of seminars has been scheduled, including the latest in waterfowl research.
The event will also feature the Wisconsin Duck and Goose Calling Championships as well as judging for state waterfowl, turkey and pheasant stamps.
A fastest retriever contest will also be held.
Hunters are invited to bring their boats and blinds to the expo and participate in a “Show Off Your Rig" event.
Vintage waterfowl hunting boats and gear will be on display and, just like at some recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sport Shows, an “old duck hunter” photo booth will be set up for youth and adults to dress up and take pictures.
The venue will allow moving indoors in the event of rain, Ross said.
And location isn't just a key tenet in real estate and hunting blind placement: the Oshkosh site is within a 90minute drive of the vast majority of the homes of people who buy Wisconsin waterfowl stamps, Ross said.
"We're hopeful this will turn into an annual event that helps kick off the year's waterfowl seasons," Ross said.
The event is being run by volunteers and is not-for-profit. If revenues allow they will fund a scholarship, Ross said.
Tickets are $10; a buy one ticket, get one free offer runs through Aug. 8. Children under the age of 12 are admitted free.
To buy tickets or for more information, visit www.waterfowlhuntersexpo.com.
Madelynn Bernau contends for finals spot in trapshooting at Olympics
Madelynn Bernau, 23, of Waterford hit 71 of 75 targets Wednesday in the first three qualification rounds of women's trapshooting at the Tokyo Olympics.
The score put her 11th out of 26 competitors.
Kayle Browning, the other U.S. representative in women's trap, was ninth.
The event will include two additional qualification rounds of 25 targets on Thursday morning. The top six scores will advance to the finals Thursday afternoon.
Zuzana Rehak Stefecekova of Slovakia leads the field in women's trap with a perfect score of 75.
In men's trapshooting U.S. team members were facing longer odds to make the finals. After three rounds of qualifying, Brian Burrows was 20th with a score of 72 and Derrick Mein was 27th with 70.
Through Wednesday, the U.S. had won four medals in shooting events (golds in men's skeet and women's skeet, gold in men's 10-meter air rifle and silver in 10-meter air rifle mixed team), surpassing its results in the entire 2016 Summer Games in Rio (gold in women's 10-meter air rifle, bronzes in women's trapshooting and women's skeet).
Trap mixed team (men and women on the same team) qualification and finals are scheduled for Saturday.
Upriver Lakes sturgeon deadline coming up
Sunday is the deadline to apply for a tag to spear lake sturgeon during the 2022 season in the Upriver Lakes of the Winnebago System.
The DNR holds a drawing to issue 500 tags annually for the opportunity in lakes Poygan, Winneconne and Butte des Morts. License holders must apply for a tag or purchase a preference point for the Upriver Lakes spear fishery. Those not selected earn a preference point for future drawings.
The state's next sturgeon spearing season is scheduled to begin Feb. 12, 2022 on Lake Winnebago and the Upriver Lakes. To buy a license and apply for an Upriver Lakes tag, visit gowild.wi.gov .