Camping Wisconsin's Wildlands

Good morning to all you's out there in the land of Wiscampsin! We keep you in the know on everything WI Outdoors.

Today's 'pitch'

• Quickie on the camping season ahead 🏕

• Volunteering for our outdoor spaces 🙌 

• The crane hunting debate 🐦

• Wisconsin's warming winters ❄️

Camping Wisconsin's Wildlands

With 6,000 reservable campsites, 4 million acres of primitive land, and endless rivers, lakes and ridges to explore, camping is definitely one of the top allures of our state. Along with the cheese, of course...

And even though the Dairyland is more of a winter wonderland right now, we've compiled a quick guide to get the gears turning on the trips ahead.

Where to get out 'der

The first step of any successful camping trip is picking out where you'll pitch your tent. Hopefully not next to Dad's, he snores so loud...

Asking your neighbor for a recommendation sometimes pans out, sometimes not (he's from Chicago, remember). So here are the Wiscampsin team's fav tools for finding that ~perfect~ campsite:

• Campnab: "Like Google Flights for camping, except better." Set an alert for the campground you want to visit and a rough timeline, and you'll get a notification when the site becomes available (lots of folks cancel last minute).

• WI State Park Reservation system: Wisconsin is home to 66 State Parks, and a lot of 'em are camp-able. Although not the prettiest site, it gets the job done at gettin' you out 'der to places like Rock Island, a romantic little isle on Lake Michigan.

• Free Campsites: As the name suggests, this tool lets you search state forests and other free camping designations outside of the State Park System, so you can put that money towards the s'mores supplies.

• AllTrails: Although not technically for reserving camp sites, AllTrails crowdsources information on trails throughout the State. Oftentimes, the nice folks in the comments will give real-time info and pictures on trail and campsite conditions.

"Tent sweet tent"

Once you have a nifty campsite picked out, it's time to pack the gear and coolers.

Although everyone has their own definition of "the essentials," you definitely don't want to forget things like The Tent and Uncle Terry's leftover venison jerky. So the best thing to do heading into any camping trip is to compile a checklist, like this one from REI.

If you're getting out 'der in the winter time, it's especially important to dress for the weather. Although a beer coat works well to take the edge off, proper clothing is key to staying comfortable in the elements.

When it comes to food, remember to have a little fun. Nothing can top a piping hot pudgy pie after a long day on the trails. If you're going to grill some bratwurst, make sure to check the burn regulations for your county as to avoid a ticket.

Welp, that's the quick and dirty of it folks. Hopefully this stirred the inner boy and girl scout in you to start planning that next outing. Have fun, be safe, and don't forget the mosquito spray!

Nuts and Seeds 🌰 

🐦 No crane, no gain: There's quite a lot of squawking going on over the controversial Sandhill Crane hunting season bill that was proposed late last year. Read about it here and here. The "ribeye of the sky" ...

❄️ Warming woes: The last two decades have shown record temps here in Wisconsin, with the quickest shift in weather taking place during winter - a major concern for all us winter warriors.

👩‍🌾 'Scons to the rescue: The DNR is asking for volunteers to help build trails, host nature centers, and other outdoorsy jobs. No better way to earn your 🧀 curds 🧀 

Hipcamp find of the week ⛺️

"Breathtaking panoramic, cozy cabin" is what one person said of the Esker Ridge Studio up by Governor State Park. If you need a secluded weekend getaway, this is your golden ticket. They even rent canoes with canoe access to water on the property. *Beers not included*

Well, how'd we do this week?

• 🧀🧀🧀🧀🧀 Better than a finely-aged cheese

• 🧀🧀🧀 Still better than Illinois, but could be better

• 🧀 Boo. This made me lactose intolerant