Mornin’ to everyone itchin’ for Halloween—here’s a photo gallery of Wisconsin bats to get you in the mood (ope, not THAT mood, Bob!). 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:

🦌 State’s 8th elk season opened this week

🥵 Great Lakes see record temps

 👀 DNR hopes to teach the next generation to hunt

🌲 STORY OF THE WEEK: Forester reflects on conservation in the Northwoods

🦌 State’s 8th elk season opened this week LINK

• Elk season’s back, and bigger than ever: Wisconsin’s eighth elk hunt kicks off Oct. 18 — and for the first time, hunters can harvest antlerless elk, marking a new chapter in the state’s conservation comeback story.

• Out of more than 26,000 hopefuls, just 13 hunters snagged a coveted tag, proof that drawing an elk license in Wisconsin is about as rare as an untapped keg at a tailgate

• With strong calving numbers and a balanced approach to managing elk and humans alike, the DNR says the herd is thriving

🥵 Great Lakes see record temps LINK

• The Great Lakes are running a fever: All five are 4–5.5°F warmer than usual this fall — with Lake Michigan leading the pack at a toasty 62.6°F. Lake Erie even flirted with a record-breaking 66°.

• Those balmy temps could supercharge lake-effect snow once Arctic air rolls in (think fluffy blizzards powered by steamy lakes).

• Even with the warmth, experts say ice could still form if winter brings enough chill. But the long-term trend? Fewer frozen days and shorter winters across the Great Lakes region.

👀 DNR hopes to teach the next generation to hunt LINK

• Hunting may be waning in Wisconsin, but the DNR is on a mission to rekindle the state’s outdoor legacy, teaching not just how to hunt, but why it matters.

• Through programs like Learn to Hunt and Outdoor Skills, newcomers get hands-on lessons in everything from safe firearm use to deer processing and wild game cooking, all with an eye toward ethics, ecology, and inclusion.

• The agency’s message is clear: hunting isn’t just about the harvest — it’s about slowing down, connecting to nature, and learning to live sustainably with the land. Hear, hear!

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Coffee Passport = 50% off your drink at local coffee shops

Coffee addicts, rejoice!

Venture Wisconsin just dropped the 2026 Coffee Passport—the handy book that gives you 50% off your coffee at 191 local Wisconsin coffee shops. Here’s how it works:

1. Visit a participating coffee shop or bakery

2. Present your passport and order your drink

3. Get 50% off your drink (Bonus: Your friend can get 50% off, too!)

Simple, right? Whether you want to explore different coffee shops with friends, support small businesses, or simply save some money, the Coffee Passport is for you.

Get one for yourself or give it as a gift—use code: WISCAMPSIN for 15% off!

WISCAMPSIN WEEKLY POLL

Last week's poll may have been a softball for this audience; 84% of voters got it right: a string of bright, sunny days and cool, crisp nights is the ideal combination for vibrant fall colors 🍂