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- đââď¸ Hang Ten (Below Zero): Surfing the Malibu of the Midwest
đââď¸ Hang Ten (Below Zero): Surfing the Malibu of the Midwest
Plus: Birdshot in bears, a stuck tugboat, and First Day Hikes
Forrest Koslowski
January 01, 2026
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Morninâ and happy New Year to those looking to kick 2026 off with an Up Nort adventure. 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 weekâs weekly:
đť Study reveals 20% of WI bears carry birdshot wounds
âď¸ Agencies stall on removing stuck Baileys Harbor tugboat
𼞠DNR hosting guided "First Day Hikes" at state parks on Jan 1.
đââď¸ STORY OF THE WEEK: Why winter is peak surf season in Sheboygan
đť Birdshot backfires on WI bears (and your trash cans) LINK
A UW-Stevens Point study estimates that up to 20% of Wisconsin black bears are walking around with birdshot pellets in their hides, a sign that homeowners are trying to "haze" the critters a little too aggressively.
While a blast of birdshot might send a bear running, researchers warn it often causes injuries that prevent them from foraging naturallyâwhich, ironically, forces them to return to "easy" food sources like your garbage bin.
With bear complaints rising (847 in 2024 alone), the DNR is reminding folks that the best defense isn't a 12-gauge but a little tidiness: taking down bird feeders and securing trash is the way to truly keep the peace.
âď¸ Baileys Harborâs 500-ton lawn ornament LINK
The Donny S. tugboat has been stuck in the mud since 2021, officially graduating from "local curiosity" to a rusty eyesore that has the shoreline community pretty perturbed.
While DNR notes indicate the owner lacks the means to move the vessel, government agencies are stuck in a bureaucratic loop, debating who is responsible for the estimated $1 million removal bill.
With the hull rusting away, locals worry itâs only a matter of time before the boat leaks oil into the harborâthough the Coast Guard says there is no active pollution just yet.
𼞠Kick off the New Year on the trail LINK
The DNR is inviting folks to shake off the holiday cobwebs (and maybe that extra slice of pie) with "First Day Hikes" scheduled at state parks all across Wisconsin, from Havenwoods to Pattison.
Whether youâre looking for a guided trek with a naturalist or a self-guided snowshoe adventure, many properties are rolling out the welcome mat with bonfires, warm refreshments, and accessible options.
Just remember that youâll likely need a vehicle admission sticker or trail pass to join the funâso be sure to check the DNR Events calendar for specific times and locations before you head out.
Looking for a great gift? Our friends at Venture Wisconsin have incredible gifts that are experiential, support local businesses, and are Wisconsin through and through!
The Wisconsin Supper Club guide: Huge savings at 135 supper clubs across the state (estimated savings: as much as $1,500!)
Wisconsin Coffee Shop Passport: Get 50% off your coffee at 191 local coffee shopsâgreat way to explore new coffee shops in Wisconsin!
Old Fashioned Passport: Ope, this is awesome! 50% off two old fashioneds at 170 locations in the state.
Ice Cream Shop Passport: Yummyâ50% off two ice creams at 110 ice cream shops in the state!
Wisconsin Fish Fry Guide: $10 off your fish fry at 108 restaurants, who doesnât love that?
And tons more!
đŚ STORY OF THE WEEK: A Hypothermic Hang Ten: Surfing Americaâs Third Coast
When most âSconnies hear the words hang-ten, they usually think of the 10-point buck hanging in their cousinâs garage.
What they don't think of is the different kind of thrill that attracts folks to our great state:
Surfing.
That's right, located thousands of miles from either of the admittedly more well-known coasts, Wisconsin is graced to have a surfeable coastline of its ownâAKA Lake Michigan.
And while there are plenty of freshwater surf spots along our great lake, none appeals to the surf savant like Sheboygan in the wintertime.
Surfing âAmericaâs Third Coastâ
Wisconsinâs surf depends entirely on winds
Best time to surf in Wisconsin is August to April
The peak time to surf is middle of winter, so a full-body wetsuit is needed
The Bratwurst/Freshwater Surfing Capital of the World
Forget the coconuts, sun burns, and salted seas!
For the past 50 or so years, surfers from all over the world have made the pilgrimage to Sheboygan, WI to surf the famed breakwaters of its beaches, earning it the moniker "The Malibu of the Midwest."
Ya see folks, what makes Sheboygan so special (besides those delicious bratwurst) is the way the wind whips up around its beaches.
Deland Park, which is hailed as the "Best Sconnie Surf Spot," juts out out into Lake Michigan not unlike your Aunt Susan's cheek boil, creating perfect conditions for sometimes 7+ foot waves. And donât forgetâzero sharks!!!
It's all about timing
Although you can technically surf in Sheboygan (and other spots on Lake Michigan) any time, the best time is from August to April, with the peak landing right smack-dab in the middle of winter.
When the cold winter air mixes with the warmer lake air along the shoreline, powerful winds create great surf conditions.
And unlike oceanic surf spots, which are aided by rising and lowering tides, where wind is often not preferred, Lake Michigan surfing is purely dependent on winter winds.
Thus, itâs not uncommon to spot surfers in sub-zero temps, scrambling across icy beaches in wetsuits, just to catch an ideal weather window (which don't last too long).
The brother's quest
Though the surfing itself is pretty rad, the culture of freshwater surfing is just as appealing, which is in part because of the two Sheboygan-native brothers who pioneered this cold water pursuit.
Back in the 60's, Lee "Water Flea" and Larry "Longboard" Williams, upon realizing that it takes a bit of doe (and not the furry kind) to surf California and Hawaii, figured why not master the waves off the shore of their hometown Sheboygan?
Into their adulthood, this question became a focused pursuit, chasing after freshwater waves at famed spots like The Elbow.
Their passioned vision of Wisconsin's surfing potential helped kickstart the surf culture that thrives in Sheboygan today, a legacy that is championed through Facebook groups and local surf shops.
How to get out âder
Next time you're thinking about taking it tropical, consider a 'staycation' in Wisconsin's own surfing mecca!
Support surf shops like EOS (Sheboygan shop for rentals, lessons, surf reports) or Lake Effect (MKE shop for rentals lessons, and surf reports).
High 5 Surf has been providing year-round surf lessons and guided trips on Lake Michigan
Or, if youâd rather not freeze your cheeks off, check out a flick on freshwater surfing. Heck, even forward this email to your friends!
Whatever it takes to - you guessed it - get out 'der.
WISCAMPSIN WEEKLY POLL
27% of poll voters got last week's trivia right:
The correct answer for last weekâs trivia was B) To compete in teams to shoot the greatest quantity of birds and mammals, regardless of species.
Explanation: The "Side Hunt" was a social sporting event where men would gather on Christmas Day, choose "sides" (teams), and head into the field. The goal was simple volume: the team that brought back the biggest pile of carcassesâoften including songbirds, owls, and small mammalsâwas declared the winner. Ornithologist Frank Chapman proposed the "Bird Census" in 1900 as a bloodless alternative to this wanton slaughter.
How much does a Wisconsin Black Bear cub weigh at birth?While we are celebrating the New Year, one of Wisconsin's largest mammals is currently doing something medically incredible. In January, while in the deepest phase of hibernation, the female Black Bear (sow) will give birth. The mother is 150-200+ lbs. |
MEME OF THE WEEK đ
A review from the trail⌠we will let Forrest know he can have two-three more during the holidays!
Well, how'd we do this week? |
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