Mornin' and congrats to Dan Small, Outdoor Wisconsin host for getting inducted into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. 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.

Ope! Last week we erroneously called Lyme Disease “Lyme’s Disease,” apologies for the goofup! 

This week’s weekly:

• Wisconsin’s maple syrup 🍁 

• Poetry contest ✍️

• Bowfisherman’s rare harvest 🏹 

Wisconsin’s Maple Syrup Season Has Arrived

When it comes to the liquids we hold in high regard here in the Dairyland State, it pretty much goes like this:

• Beer

• Milk (and the many things it creates)

• Maple syrup

• Tears of Chicago Cubs fans

And since it’s “that time of year” again, maple syrup is once again in the limelight.

WI Maple Syrup licks

• Wisconsin ranks 4th in the nation in maple syrup production

• Produced over 400,000 gallons in 2023

• Also produce the most yield per tap in the US

A sappy history

Long before Paul Bunyan's Cook Shanty was serving lumberjack-style breakfasts, Native Americans were tapping sugar maples for the sweetness within.

At the time, sugar maples were practically unlimited in our original forests. The natives believed the maple syrup to be a direct connection to the earth.

Today, the Ojibwe still practice the ancient tradition to reap the health benefits from the "sugarbush."

Now some biology

Why does Wisconsin rank 4th in the US in maple syrup production (behind Vermont, New York and Maine)? Great Q, neighbor.

It all has to do with our springtime climate.

For sap to run, it requires just above-freezing daytime temps, and just-below freezing temps at night. Too cold, and the sap won't run. Too warm, and the sap becomes unusable.

But with the right conditions, this back and forth creates an ideal harvest, which typically takes place between mid-March to mid-April.

Harvesting

Harvesting maple syrup can be boiled down to four activities:

1. Tapping the keg tree

2. Collecting

3. Cooking/boiling

4. Filtering and bottling

Once a sugar maple - our state tree - reaches 40 years old, it's typically ripe for tapping.

A single tree can produce up to as much as 20 gallons of maple syrup. That’s a lot of pancakes!

The maple syrup is categorized by color and flavor. They range from golden syrups, which are delicate in flavor and lightest in color, to amber, dark, and very dark.

A number of factors affect the color and flavor, such as temperature, speed of processing, duration of boiling, etc.

How to get out ‘der

Unfortunately, the maple belt continues to move farther and farther north as our climate becomes warmer. In three out of the last five years, the season commenced as early as February.

But if you'd like to try your hand, all you need is a few supplies from the hardware store and a sugar maple. Maple water has even been hailed as the next health craze, possessing nutritional properties akin to coconut water.

It also just plain tastes good.

Want to join in on the fun with fellow ‘Scons? Check out some of these great maple syrup events, full of contests, tasting, and of course - pancakes!

Now get out der!

Help support the Wiscampsin Weekly by checking out these other great newsletters!

Other great Wiscampsin reads…

Mosquitoes: Wisconsin's State Bird

Wisconsin: Maple Syrup Sanctuary

Wisconsin's Pollinators

Shop Wiscampsin

Wisconsin State Bird Art Print: “Very nicely made, great colors and design. It looks amazing in my home. Keep it up Wiscampsin ❤️” - Peggy

Wiscampsin Badgers Tee: “It’s the perfect t-shirt to show off my love for camping and Wisconsin at the same time :)” - Emily

Wiscampsin Recycled License Plate Frame: “Love it! Get out der! Makes my Mazda look even better” - Alex

Wiscampsin Mug: “Awesome mug, very lightweight, the mug doesn't get piping hot if you need to microwave your coffee either.” - Matthew

Wiscampsin Weekly Poll

Honestly a bit surprised here—74% of you said Daylight Saving turning on was a net benefit for your outdoor endeavors! Not sure what the Early Birds would say!

Nuts and Seeds 🌰 

☀️ Our warmest winter on record: This past winter just broke our previous record set in 2001-2002 by a whopping 2 degrees Fahrenheit. From December to February, our average temp was 28.3 degrees, 10 degrees higher than the average of the last three decades. See more here.

🏹 Bowfishing hauls in Gold: A ‘Scon bowfisherman harvested an extremely rare golden bowfin. Tanner Peterson of good ‘ol Salem, WI took to the water with his brother Gunner in Racine County when he arrowed the 19-inch golden bowfin. It is believed to be the first time one has been harvested in the state.

✍️ Poets wanted: The DNR is now accepting entries for the Air, Air, Everywhere poetry contest. The 13th annual contest is open to 3rd-5th graders with the aim of raising awareness for air quality during Clean Air Month of May. The winners of the contest will have their work featured on the DNR website and social media channels. Apply before Friday, May 3.

 Sponsored by our NEW Recycled Cow Manure Coffee Mugs!

Just kidding! Although there are probably some diehard ‘Scons out there that would dig that…

Looking for a totally cool and sustainable coffee mug and a way to support Wiscampsin? Check out our Recycled Coffee Bean Coffee Mugs!!

The Wiscampsin shop has some other goodies too, like our recycled license plate frames, our new shirts… Everything we make, we source as sustainably as possible to keep our green spaces all the greener.

*And as always, 1% of profits will go to the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks.

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Meme of the Week 😂

A review from the trail… Don’t even get us started on ‘da Bears!