I talked to Erik Johnson from Kiel Bait & Gun and he mentioned that he and Jim Jodar had a ninth place finish on August 8th at the Midwest Walleye Series tourney on Lake Winnebago with one 19-inch walleye. Only 20 of roughly 80 some boats even registered a fish.

On the plus side, the duo caught over a dozen perch between 10 and 12 inches when they were jigging for walleyes. The perch have provided consistent action for anglers and hellgrammites and crawlers continue to be the best bait.

Cottage owners and anglers have had to deal with some of the worst weed concentrations Winnebago has seen for over a decade. In addition, the dirty water is creating a build up on water craft that is difficult to get off.

Yet once again, a federal judge has reinstated Endangered Species Act protection for gray wolves in the Rocky Mountain region. What Judge Molloy's ruling does is stop state run wolf management plans.

That ruling probably won't help Wisconsin's attempt to have the delisting that took place last year revoked. On August 10th, the odds improved somewhat when administrators from natural resources agencies in 13 Midwestern states and three Canadian provinces signed a joint resolution urging the U.S. Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service to remove the gray wolf from the federal endangered species list.

It is interesting to see that several of the states like Kentucky and Indiana that are party to the resolution do not currently have resident wolf populations. It appears they see the handwriting on the wall and are attempting to be proactive.

WDNR Secretary Matt Frank captured the situation when he stated that "Overall, support for the recovery of the wolf in the Midwest had been strong, but as the population continues to grow states need authority to manage wolves within their borders, including the ability to remove problem wolves, if broad public support is to continue."

Another predator that continues to make the headlines is the cougar. Recent DNA analysis has confirmed that four of the big cats have been in Wisconsin within the last two years.

Despite that finding, Wildlife Services, part of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, has yet to capture any predator responsible for the animal attacks in Juneau County. It also has not captured any predators on night cameras at bait sites, nor has tracking with dogs yielded any results. As of last week, no blood, hair, scat or urine has been found that can be attributed to a cougar.

Officials with the Illinois DNR reported last week that more than 30 deer have been discovered to be dying from an insect-born virus known as EHD (epizootic hemorrhagic disease). Residents have found deer frothing at the mouth, approaching homes and humans and dying near creeks. In 2007, the last major out break, the disease killed 1.900 whitetails in Illinois.

A couple of weeks ago Safari Club International (SCI) Chapters of Wisconsin sent a delegation to the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, etc. at the University of Saskatchewan. Researchers there had announced, with certainty, development of a vaccine that induces strong immune responses specific for the misfolded form of prion protein that causes Chromic Wasting Disease CWD) in deer and elk. An injectable form of the vaccine is currently being tested to determine whether it will protect from the disease. A second generation of oral vaccine is in the pipeline which may be administered through feed.

A formal press conference will not be taking place before September, but the scientists involve said "We see promise, certainly, in the laboratory studies to date and while it is premature to report anything significant at this point, we are planning to begin animal trials in the coming months."

Beginning this fall, non-resident senior citizens will have the same privileges as state residents for hunting any number of species with a crossbow. The legislation took effect on Feb. 26, 2010 and allows non-residents age 65 or older the privilege of using a crossbow.

Until next time, keep your hooks sharp, your feet warm and your powder dry!

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