Mornin' to everyone still digesting Mom’s stuffing. This is the Wiscampsin Weekly - the email that gets you in the know on the Wisconsin outdoors in 5 minutes or less. New reader? Subscribe here.

This week’s weekly:

🐟 Brook trout reserves program launched

🥾 Wisconsin State Parks celebrate 125 years

🐺 Preserving indigenous mounds

👀 Story of the week: 2024 Deer gun season results (great news)

🐟 Brook trout reserves program launched LINK

• The Wisconsin DNR launched the Brook Trout Reserves program to protect native brook trout from warming stream temperatures.

• Fisheries biologists identified 205 subwatersheds likely to sustain brook trout populations, focusing on streams with self-sustaining populations and minimal nonnative trout.

• The public can support the initiative by enrolling in streambank easement programs, volunteering for habitat projects, or implementing land-use practices that preserve cold water streams.

🥾 Wisconsin State Parks celebrate 125 years LINK

• Wisconsin’s State Park System will celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2025 with statewide events, including hikes, tree plantings, and a major summer celebration at Interstate Park.

• The park system features 50 state parks, 44 trails, and self-sustains primarily through park passes and campsite fees, despite low public funding.

• Interstate Park, Wisconsin's first state park, is known for geological features like the Dalles of the St. Croix and offers various recreational activities, including hiking and rock climbing.

🐺 Preserving indigenous mounds  LINK

• Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee recently rediscovered two Indigenous burial mounds, now working with tribal experts and historians to develop preservation plans.

• The Effigy Mounds Initiative, led by Kurt Sampson, helps private and public landowners across Wisconsin protect and maintain ancient mound sites.

• Wisconsin's Indigenous mounds, estimated at 4,000 remaining out of an original 15,000 to 20,000, represent a vital nonrenewable cultural heritage, requiring ongoing care and protection from erosion and invasive species.

🦌 STORY OF THE WEEK: 2024 Deer gun season results show more hunters, more harvests, less injuries LINK

The freezers were filled!

Wisconsin’s 2024 nine-day gun deer hunting season ended with a boost in hunter participation and harvest totals, signaling a strong year for one of the state’s most celebrated tradition (after beating ‘da Bears at home, of course…).

Preliminary license sales for deer hunting privileges reached 791,023, a slight increase from 2023, with 553,652 sold for gun hunting alone.

Hunters registered 189,622 deer during the season—up 5.2% from the previous year—including 89,787 antlered and 99,835 antlerless deer.

Adams County led the Central Farmland Zone in harvest density, while Vernon and Florence counties excelled in the Southern and Northern Forest Zones, respectively.

Not only that, but it was our safest gun-deer season on record! Only one hunter was injured in a non-fatal shooting incident, down from three last season.

Another cool bit worth mentioning: One Little Chute hunter spent over 200 hours bowhunting for a certain buck he called Freak Show, who eventually turned up in his rifle scope on opening day of gun season (spoiler: he filled his tag). Read the story here.

Now forward this email to a friend, have a great weekend, and get out ‘der.

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TRIP IDEA OF THE WEEK

What: Snowshoeing, nordic skiing, time spent with friends in the northwoods!

Where: Delta Lodge Cabins in Iron Ridge, WI (this place has an awesome history and trails right outside your door)

Why: This place is historic, housing generations of families looking to explore Wisconsin’s great outdoors via snowshoeing, nordic skiing, etc etc. Has all the cozy winter cabin vibes you want!

READER GIVEAWAY

Congrats to Wiscampsin reader Jilly Shultz! You had the most referrals last week, we’ll be in touch regarding your T Shirt!

Want to win a Wiscampsin Basic Tee on the house!? Whoever refers the most readers before next week’s edition will win one! Use your referral link below. Make sure to remind those you refer to verify their subscription by clicking on the confirmation email! Good luck!

Wiscampsin Weekly Poll

To those who participated in gun season we hope you brought home some free-range, anti-biotic free wild game for the family!

Meme of the Week 😂

A review from the trail… Agreed neighbor!