Lodi WI Outdoors | Lodi Valley News

River Currents

Rating 4.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI
9/4/09
by Gary Engberg
©2009 Gary Engberg Outdoors

Scouting is the Key

Justin Walker with a huge buck harvested in Sauk Co.

Hopefully, bow hunters have been out doing some scouting before the opening of Wisconsin’s September 12bow deer season. A serious bow hunter should have already had his or her bow “tuned-up” by a professional, done some regular shooting from the ground and their tree stand, and been doing some exercise for the physicality of hunting. But, pre-season scouting is the key to a hunter’s success during both the bow and gun deer seasons. Nothing can take the place of a hunter getting out into the woods and doing some pre-season scouting on the land that they hunt. Recently, I’ve been talking to many local bow hunters like Mazomanie’s Dale Reeve and Sauk Prairie’s Wally Banfi and they have been preparing for the up-coming season bow season for weeks, if not months. Big game biologist and deer expert, Tony Wasley says, “One of the most important things that you can do to increase your chance of success is to scout your hunting area before you hunt. It’s essential that you familiarize yourself with unit boundaries, the access points, the vegetation, and the terrain that you will be hunting.”

Scouting pays off in the long run because no matter how many times that you’ve hunted an area, things can change and getting out to where you hunt often pays off substantially during the hunting season. Whether you hunt private or public land, things can and do change particularly on public, BLM lands (Bureau of Land Management), and National Forest lands. Access roads may have changed, land policy use can change, logging may have occurred, and state and Federal agencies may have changed some of their rules and regulations on the land you hunt. Read more »

A Market – A Musing

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Goldie The Chicken visits Lodi Valley Farmers Market

7/15/2009
Lodi, WI Wisconsin

By Gail Lamberty

Last Friday’s Lodi Valley Farmers’ Market was your chance to “Talk to the Animals.” In conjunction with the Lodi Fair, we thought we might have some critters join us for the afternoon. Many folks stopped by the market table to chat with Two Toes, Flap Jack, Goldie and Peanut. The chickens and the pygmy goat at the market stole the hearts of big and little kids alike.

Two Toes, Flap Jack and Goldie are 8 week old chicks with glorious plumage. The “chicken whisperer” was there to reassure them there were there to be admired for their beauty. The chicks seemed to like the pretzels almost as much as Will and Tyler their handlers for the day. Pam, our master gardener, raided her own chicken coop to give them a day at the market. Many thanks, Pam, to you and your grandsons. Read more »

Fishing Has No Boundaries and the Take an Adult Fishing Event

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Nice Smallmouth Bass

Lodi, WI Wisconsin
7/14/2009

This past weekend was the fourteenth annual Fishing Has No Boundaries (FHNB) event for physically challenged and disabled individuals. FHNB was started in 1986 in Hayward, Wisconsin and now has over two dozen chapters nationally in 23 states. There are Wisconsin chapters in; Hayward, Eagle River, UW-Oshkosh, Chippewa Valley, Madison, and Fond du Lac.

Fishing Has No Boundaries took over Governor Nelson State Park with almost 100 participants and over 300 volunteers who are the one’s who make this great event possible. The participants pay a nominal fee with a portion of the fee going to the national organization for the development of new chapters. The disabled anglers get two days of fishing and fun on the water with experienced guides and anglers, boats and pontoons that can accommodate wheelchairs, bait, boxed lunches and beverages for two days, adaptive fishing gear for those who need it, safe dock loading, FHNB hats and T-shirts, and fish cleaning. After Saturdays fishing, the Yahara Fishing Club puts on its fabulous fish fry for all the participants and volunteers using many of the fish caught that day. Read more »

A Market – A Musing

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Is that Larry beneath the Hat?

Lodi WI, Wisconsin
7/8/09

By Gail Lamberty

The wagon came and circled. It wasn’t followed by war whoops or shooting. It was surrounded by generosity and kindness instead.

Lodi Valley Farmers’ Market and the Lodi Area Food Pantry have been partners for a number of years in providing fresh produce to the elderly, shut-ins and those among our community who are experiencing rough times. Donations from the market on Friday are stored in two coolers in the market barn and distributed on Saturday am. Read more »

River Currents

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Gary's New Puppy

Lodi, WI Wisconsin
7/7/2009

My New Roommate and Companion

Many of you readers have sent me wonderful and heart-touching letters and emails over the years when I have had to put a dog down and more recently when my last Labrador, Bo, passed away last December. Dogs and their stories, many of them sad and tear-jerking, strike a common bond with many people from many different walks of life in today’s world.

I have written about my Labs and their escapades both good and bad over the last two decades. My dogs are my family and only dog owners can feel the heartache and joys that they bring to you in a life that is way too short. Throughout all my writing, stories about losing a companion bring me more emails and letters than anything that I do in the world of the outdoors. Dogs of all breeds and kinds are a common thread between so many of us. Losing a life-long pet is one of the worst things that can happen to a dog owner and brings all of us to tears when facing this terrible time. You never completely get over the loss of a dog that you have raised and spent year’s together hunting and enjoying the outdoors. The bond is a strong one and many who don’t have dogs don’t understand this powerful relationship. Read more »

Lodi’s Dynamic Duo

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi Valley Farmers Market Fridays 2pm to 6pm

7/6/2009
Lodi, WI Wisconsin

Lodi Area Food Pantry + Lodi Valley Farmers’ Market = One Fabulous Dynamic Duo for Lodi.

Last Friday at the Lodi Valley Farmers’ Market, donations and vendors filled two huge coolers with fresh produce for the elderly, shut in and folks in need for the Lodi Area Food Pantry. That alone is outstanding generosity and only in Lodi can the story get even better!

For a mere $10, you can buy a very classy market bag. Last Friday Lodi Valley Farmers’ Market /Lodi Area Food Pantry bags were introduced as a fund raiser for the market and the pantry. Read more »

A Market – A Musing

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI Wisconsin
7/1/2009
By Gail Lamberty

When we scheduled the “get grilling” market for Friday June 25^th were not thinking of grilling our own hides. It was a scorcher! Never to be called “wimps” our vendors showed up in good spirits with garden goodies galore! The first beans and (probably) the last asparagus were at the vendor booths. As always, you can get the expected and unexpected at the Lodi market. Read more »

River Currents

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Hanson's 52" Madison Chain Muskie

Lodi, WI Wisconsin
6/30/2009
by Gary Engberg
©2009 Gary Engberg Outdoors

Understand Fish Movement Through the Seasons for Success

Last week’s hot weather has raised local water temperatures to mid summer temperatures of 75 to 80 degrees. The warmer water has allowed all fish species to finish their spawning and recuperate for the rigors of this annual ritual. Even the last fish to spawn (largemouth, catfish, bluegills, and sunfish) are recovered and feeding heavily in local lakes and rivers.

What warm water, weed growth, and post spawn fish when all put together mean that fish are active, aggressive, and hungry. The metabolism of fish has been raised and most fish must regularly feed just to maintain their weight. The young fish of the year are trying not to be eaten themselves while feeding non-stop for their own growth. If you can now find fish, they should be willing biters! Read more »

Army Deer Study Is Inconclusive

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI
6/22/09

A pivotal human health study evaluating the potential uptake of residual explosives by deer has been found to be inconclusive. An independent technical review has determined that an oft-cited Army study is not able to confirm or deny whether it is safe to eat the deer from the Badger Army Ammunition Plant.

In response to renewed pressure from the U.S. Army to weaken required soil cleanup goals, rural neighbors of the Badger plant hired an independent consultant to review a deer tissue study which the military says supports their position. Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger (CSWAB) asked Environmental Stewardship Concepts, a Virginia-based firm with expertise in environmental health issues, to review the Army report. Read more »

River Currents

Rating 4.00 out of 5

Lodi, Wisconsin
6/15/09
by Gary Engberg
©2009 Gary Engberg Outdoors

What a Great Comeback!

Lake Delton after the June '08 dam breach

Last Tuesday, June 9th marked the first anniversary of the tragedy that drained Lake Delton and rocked this tourist dependent community. The scenario that caused this disaster would be difficult if not impossible to have happen again. The dam at Lake Delton didn’t fail, but a combination of many forces caused a section of shoreline to collapse into the Wisconsin River.

Here is what happened; first, there was extremely heavy rainfall that saturated the area’s sandy soil. Second, the piece of land that collapsed was between the flooded lake, which created high pressure on one side and the rushing waters of the Wisconsin River, which was only 700 yards away and lower in elevation than Lake Delton. Third, the heavy precipitation saturated the soil causing it to weigh much more than usual while at the same time the rain water and rising lake was moving over and through the sandy shoreline. This movement caused channels and pores that reduced the soil’s ability to remain in place and stay stable. Lastly, the increasing forces of gravity from the weight of the saturated soil and the decreasing resistance of the weakened sand combined with the other forces causing this section of shoreline and the waters of Lake Delton to wash into the Wisconsin River. The breach of Lake Delton destroyed five homes and emptied this lake which had help support the area’s booming tourist industry for decades. Read more »

Gibraltar Rock Bioblitz Reminder

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI
6/10/09

This is a note to remind citizens of the area to join a team of expert naturalists/scientists to discover the plants and animals of Gibraltar Rock this Saturday, June 13th from 8:30am to 3:00pm. The “BioBlitz”—a day-long event to document as many species as possible—is hosted by Friends of Scenic Lodi Valley. We’ll have several experts in plants and wildlife on hand to both identify species and to teach citizens about the interesting diversity of Gibraltar Rock.

For the adventuresome, we plan to provide a chance to visit the unusual leatherleaf bog situated at the base of Gibraltar Rock, thanks to the kind offer of the landowner. If you wish to join the “bog walk,” you should plan to get your feet wet! Wear old tennis shoes and long pants that can get wet and muddy….

Meet at the Gibraltar Rock parking lot (ca. 1 mile west of Hwy 113 on Co Hwy V, west of Okee) at 8:30am. All citizens welcome to participate in part or all of the day-long inventory. Wear long pants and good shoes, and you may wish to have insect repellent handy.

Snacks will be provided (and a porta-potty will be on site!). For more information call Charlie Luthin, Gibraltar Rock Team Leader, at 592-4326.

Stefanie Reinhold – Equine Wellness Specialist

Rating 4.00 out of 5

Lodi, Wisconsin-5/12/09
by Carole Roche

For Stefanie Reinhold, a certified equine massage practitioner and horse wellness expert, it is Cody, her 17 year old Paint, who has continued to provide day-to-day proof of the life-changing results of equine body work. “Cody had been left at a horse rescue group several years ago due to a chronic bucking problem which made him unadoptable, “ said Reinhold. “I began to work with him and quickly suspected that he must be suffering from pain and discomfort in his back. My vet confirmed that he was generally healthy, and after three months of equine bodywork and gymnasticizing, he was well enough to carry a rider without discomfort.” Read more »

Walking Wisconsin

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI-5/4/09

Rocky Arbor State Park
by Pete Price

Rocky Arbor State Park is small by anyone’s standards. The 244-acre State Park is within 1.5 miles of the popular Wisconsin Dells vacation community. The park offers cool shady woods and some rock formations. There is a relatively easy mile long trail the meanders through the park. The park is only officially open during the summer months. That is to say, vehicles may enter the park from May to September and have access to some campsites. It is very pretty during the fall season because of its mixture of ferns, pine and deciduous trees.
I really enjoy walking Rocky Arbor because it is so quiet and serene. I have been there a number of times over the last couple of years. If the park is not officially open, you can park by the front entrance, slip around the gate blocking the road and “hit the trail.” It is a great place to escape from busy activity.
The park entrance is about ¾ mile off Interstate 90/94 North of Wisconsin Dells at the highway 12/16 exit heading East.

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River Currents

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI-4/28/09

by Gary Engberg
©2009 Gary Engberg Outdoors

The warm weather and the rain (though not much) that we experienced last week and over this past weekend got things in our area of Wisconsin looking a little more like spring. Trees are starting to green and develop buds. I even saw a few crabapple trees in the Mazomanie Wildlife area that were flowering. Daily, the numerous prairies on public land that were burned off weeks ago are now “greening” up. Many bird species are passing through this part of Wisconsin on their way north and to other states and Canada. Saturday, I was working in my yard on the Wisconsin River and saw dozens of cedar wax-wings at my feeders. This is more of them than I can remember ever seeing at one time in my immediate area. If you feed birds and have bird houses, try to clean out both feeders and nests. Clean out any old material and scrub them down with water. Birds can get sick from moldy feed and old nesting matter, so do this spring cleaning for the bird’s sake. I feed birds all year long, so keep those feeders full because there still is a limited amount of natural food available. Read more »

News from the Aldo Leopold Chapter of Trout Unlimited

Rating 3.00 out of 5

Lodi, WI-4/28/09

Greetings all,

I have attached a copy of our newsletter.

Please note that May 13th is our annual picnic in Habermann Park, in Lodi. Once again, Dave Barron will be there to assist in casting. Our prizes this year are the best ever: a Sage Launch 3 wt, guided trips from The Fly Guys or Todd Franklin, a Peak rotary tying vise, plus artwork, a portable tying bench, a really nice vest, books, etc. etc. You are welcome to bring a donation, or your wallet, or both.

Great food will be provided–Eric is making pulled pork again plus other goodies. I hope to see you there!

Mike Barniskis
President, Aldo Leopold Chapter

Read the newsletter