HUNTERSfficial agazine of hapters in O M SCI C and January/February 2021 What Sets Them Apart?

• Humanitarian Hunt • COVID Alert: Chapter Events • Legislative Updates • Conservation News: LaBarbera to Chair NRF • Member Hunt Reports: Gators, Moose, Birds & Deer • Plus Whitetail Sanctuary Solutions

18 ACRES...NOTHIN’ BUT “THE LION CRIES TONIGHT” ARCHERY Proud Supporter of:

First it was SCI National cancelling their Show and Banquets, now it is the Northeast Wisconsin Chapter. Who will be next?

It is with saddened hearts that the Board of Director of the Northeast Wisconsin Chapter of SCI have decided after a long and debated board meeting to cancel our 23rd Annual SCI Hunter’s Banquet and Sport Show.

The reasons being that first and foremost is our concern for the health and safety of our membership, our exhibitors and show attendees. Secondly with all of the restriction that are in place we feel that we could not produce the quality of Banquet and Sport Show that our members, exhibitor and attendees deserve.

THE MIDWEST’S PREMIER ARCHERY FACILITY We will be having an online auction, please watch our website for more details www.scihunterexpo.com.

The Board of Directors and the Event Coordinator for the One Stop Try Them All... WE WILL NOT BE Wisconsin State Hunting Expo have already started working in Both Right & Left Handed UNDERSOLD ON on SCI Hunter’s Banquet and Sport Show for Feb 2022. ANY NEW BOW!!  Over Half a Million Dollars of Inventory In Stock We are headed for troubling times, we are in need of  5% Off Stock Bows if We Don’t Have Your Size organizations like Safari Club International that will  40 yd Indoor 3D Archery Range & Dart Video protect our Hunting Rights and Hunting Traditions.  Outdoor 28 Target 3D Course  Leagues, Rentals, Group & Corporate Outings Please support your local chapters by going to Banquets  We Service Any Bow... that are being held, biding on Online Auctions, renewing Regardless Where it was Bought! your Memberships or joining for the first time.

Conveniently Located on Interstate 94 between and Madison “DO IT LIKE YOUR WAY OF LIFE DEPENDS ON IT” N13 W28400 Silvernail Road , Pewaukee, WI • 262-547-0535 • www.buckrubarchery.com

2 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 looking for a new taxidermist? Join today! SCI Chapters welcome you! New members and your families are HUNTERSOfficial Magazine of SCI Chapters in Wisconsin and Illinois always welcome at SCI. Visit these January/February 2021 websites and join a chapter to start your adventure. Members enjoy great fun, Editor/Publishers: Mark & Coni LaBarbera On the cover: The first lesson from these successful whitetail hunters is to overcome inertia, meet new friends, make a difference leave the screens behind, go outside and spend time hunting. Story begins on page 22. in their community and help the future HUNTERS is a bimonthly publication for 6 SCI Region 16 Report 26 Hunt Report: Ontario Moose members of SCI chapters in Wisconsin, of hunting, plus you will discover new by Regional Rep. Charmaine Wargolet by Ron McClintic plus bonus electronic circulation, which deals and opportunities that improve includes some of the world’s most avid 6 Hunters’ Rights & Education: You Can 30 Michael Murphy’s WSS your hunting skill and enjoyment. and affluent conservationists who enjoy Be Part of Deer Hunt Wisconsin TV Whitetail Sanctuary Tips We invite you to join online today. hunting here and around the world. They by Mark LaBarbera have earned a reputation of leadership on 7 Northeast Wisconsin Chapter Report by President Marty Witczak 32 Humanitarian: Feather Ridge Badgerland Chapter natural resources issues and giving to pro- Welcomes Disabled Hunters President Randy Mayes tect and support the future of hunting and 8 Lake Superior Chapter Report www.scibadgerland.com conservation here and abroad. To share by President Burl Johnson 36 Post-Election Resiliency your message with them, send ads and Illinois & Chicago Chapter editorial submissions to Mark LaBarbera at 8 Conservation: Wolf Season Set 38 Hunt Report: Kevin Casey President Dale Rimkus [email protected]. 9 Legislative Update: Election And Friends Hunt Deer www.sci-illinois.com Season Finally Ends Submission of story and photos means that by Lobbyist Dan Trawicki • sick of not getting your work back? Lake Superior Chapter you are giving SCI permission to use them • tired of phone calls not getting returned? President Burl Johnson free in SCI printed or electronic form. 9 Legislative Update: Wolves www.sci-lakesuperior.com by Lobbyist Dan Trawicki • fed up with past deadlines and broken promises? Issue Deadline__ 10 Badgerland Chapter Report Northeast Wisconsin Chapter January/February November 20 For over 25 years, Northwoods Taxidermy of Waukesha has been President Marty Witczak March/April January 20 by President Randy Mayes www.scihunterexpo.com May/June March 20 quietly producing quality work at a fair price with a reasonable return July/August May 20 10 Kaminski Guns For Sale time. If you’re looking for a new taxidermist, contact Dan Trawicki at Southeast Wisc. Bowhunters Chapter September/October July 20 11 Illinois & Chicago Chapter Report Northwoods Taxidermy. Custom and standard big-game taxidermy is President Alex Valley November/December September 20 by President Dale Rimkus www.scibowhunters.com our speciality. Multiple award winner/Best of Show People’s Choice. New Advertisers 11 Hunters’ Rights: Hunting Works The number of advertisers allowed in WI for Illinois, Wisconsin and America Wisconsin Chapter SCI HUNTERS magazine is limited. If you President Charmaine Wargolet would like your ad to be considered for 12 Wisconsin Chapter Report northwoods taxidermy by President Charmaine Wargolet www.sciwi.org publication, contact Mark at wiscimag@ peoplepc.com. New advertisers who are 12 New Hunter Shares Excitement waukesha • 262-408-7632 SCI Region 16 Representative accepted and prepay for a 6x schedule Charmaine Wargolet receive substantial discounts as listed 13 Conservation: Green Fire Offers [email protected] below. All amounts are net U.S. dollars. Opportunities Now Wolf Report Ad 1x 6x Total 14 Education: Chanez Wins $2,000; Size Size Rate (Prepaid) 1/4 Pg. 3.5”w x 5.25”h $150 $600/yr. SCI Students Can Be Next 1/2 Pg. 8.25”w x 4.75”h $200 $800/yr. 15 New Product: Vortex Crossbow Scope Full Pg. 8.25”w x 10.75”h $250 $1,100/yr. Gives You Downrange Confidence Covers 8.25”w x 10.75”h $300 $1,300/yr. Deliver ads with ½” margin on four sides, 15 Hunters’ Rights & Education: plus ¼” for bleeds. Vortex Renews Support for Deer Hunt Wisconsin TV Send ad fees to Treasurer Janean Gehl, W157N10472 Fieldstone Pass, 16 Hunt Report: Father & Son Germantown, WI 53022. No attempt is Florida Gator Adventure made to verify the accuracy of ballistic 18 Conservation: Cherish information or hunt reports submitted. Ads in this publication are not considered 20 Natural Resources Foundation endorsements or approval of such adver- Elects Mark LaBarbera Chair tiser by Safari Club International. IF YOUR ADDRESS CHANGED, please 22 Hunt Report: Get Out notify Janean Gehl at [email protected] by Mark LaBarbera 4 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 Region 16 Report Northeast Wisconsin by Charmaine Wargolet, Alex Valley, SE WI Regional Representative Bowhunters Chapter; Chapter Report brand new year—2021--and Sean Coykendall and hopefully we will see a slow myself, Wisconsin by Marty Witczak, President grinding halt return to our lives! Never in my Chapter; Dan Trawicki, WI appy New Year greetings to one w h e n t r a v e l A and all! I think we can all agree restrictions lifetime did I think I would see all the State lobbyist; Mark things that this past year threw at us. I LaBarbera, HUNTERS Hthat 2020 was a year no one will were put into hope and pray all of you and your fami- magazine editor & forget and nor should we. The world place and no lies have managed to stay well through publisher; Michael experienced several important events one was able this. Roqueni, Chapter Service that forever changed how we look at to leave or The biggest news for Region 16 Specialist, SCI Tucson; and appreciate our individual free- come into the chapters is the annual meeting and Dan Schroeder, our WI State DNR our chapters are contributors and were doms. Corona-virus or COVID–19 country. All of Saturday, January 9 at Weldall NASP coordinator will attend by ZOOM. mentioned. Their outreach efforts affected every state here in the US and us big game Manufacturing plant in Waukesha This has always been a great get-to- through the show were featured also in 216 other countries and territories and fishing owned by SCI member Dave Bahl, Sr. gether for all the chapter folks to the November issue of the national around the world. We lost loved ones, enthusiasts who happens to be one of our past compare issues and problems or share Safari Times, where there was an excel- family, friends and neighbors but we were deprived Regional Reps! Everyone is looking new ideas that worked for them and lent article about the show and the also spent quality time with our families of our trophies forward to getting together to compare that they want to pass on or be able to contribution from the Big Al humani- getting reacquainted, home schooling we crave so notes on the past year and ideas ask questions of our SCI National repre- tarian fund of the Wisconsin chapter. our children, working remotely from much! Hope- for the coming year. The following sentative. I hope I will have more to Dan is a great friend to all of us home and entertaining ourselves with fully 2021 will folks will be attending; Marla & Dale report in the next issue, on how it went. sportsmen and women and we appre- family games. bring a return Rimkus, Illinois/Chicago Chapter; I can’t wait! ciate his efforts every year in helping to On November 3rd we experienced a to normalcy. Randy Mayes, Badgerland Chapter; I hope everyone got a chance to promote hunting, conserve wildlife and presidential election like we have never O u r S C I Marty Witczak, Gary Knaack, Mark watch Dan Small’s “Deer Hunt preserve our freedom to hunt! had before. More American citizens Northeast Jablonic and Mark Snyder, NE Chapter; Wisconsin” annual TV special! Some of As always, shoot straight and be well! voted in the United States than in all Wisconsin Chapter has had some how much this affects our outstanding American history! success in increasing our member- SCI members and outfitters and how Following the election was the 2020, ships. We appreciate all of you current we distribute the proceeds from gun deer hunting season. I hope members reaching out and speaking the banquet to organizations. It was a You Can Be Part of Dan Small’s everyone who was out with their gun in and inviting other sports men and difficult decision to make but we had to hand and traipsing through the woods women, friends, neighbors and family keep in mind the safety of all those to their hunting stands, were members to SCI events. Now who volunteer, all those traveling from Deer Hunt Wisconsin TV successful with their hunt and they more than ever we recognize the afar, and all the guests attending. hapter boards can vote now to shooting future videos that could be supporting local businesses like gas nailed that trophy buck! A buck they importance of keeping our gun We are however, continuing to move sponsor the 2021 show as part used on the award-winning “Deer Hunt stations and grocery stores. If you get will be able to brag about until the next and hunting rights and encourage forward with our online bidding on Cof what National SCI has asked Wisconsin” TV specials, even if you any length video clips from 10 seconds buck goes down in the books or on the current and new members to continue Saturday February 20. This is a new chapters to do to promote hunting while don’t have fancy video cameras. to 10 minutes, give Mark LaBarbera wall. Remember, if you have pictures of to reach out and talk with everyone adventure for us and hopefully it also raising awareness of SCI locally Be sure to turn your smartphone 520-730-9252 a call or text your name, your trophy you can email them to me they know. If you know of anyone that will be very successful and a new and regionally. It creates positive horizontally like a TV and press record SCI and “I have some deer hunting at [email protected] and we is interested in membership informa- tradition going forward. Please visit the publicity for SCI’s brand and its to capture camp life, deer hunters video for you.” Also, please share clips will be happy to post them on the SCI tion they can email me, and I will follow SCI Northeast Wisconsin Chapter pro-hunting message on community having fun, your deer stand and live with the SCI logo or of youth, veterans, Northeast Wisconsin Chapter up. website to learn more and for chapter public TV, Fox Sports North, Fox Sports deer plus successful hunters and fami- disabled hunters and others finding members photo gallery on the website. The Northeast Wisconsin Chapter updates. Make sure you look at the Wisconsin and year-round online. lies with their deer, preferably in the comfort and stress relief in the deer And also send them to SCI HUNTERS board members have continued to members photo gallery and submit SCI individual members can also field. Also, record scenes of hunters woods. Editor & Publisher Mark LaBarbera at meet on a monthly basis to keep your pictures of your successful contribute financially or simply by [email protected]. Please send informed on the local and national hunting trophies. sharing cell phone or other video clips us pictures of your successful hunting COVID–19 updates. At this point in In closing, I would like to extend an from you, your family and friends for trophies so everyone can share in your time, I am sure most of you are aware invitation to any member that has next year’s “Deer Hunt Wisconsin” TV. success. that the National SCI Convention in Las pictures or videos of a hunting or SCI members are among the most The Thanksgiving, Christmas and Vegas NV has been canceled. Locally, fishing excursion that they would like to active and successful hunters and can New Year’s holidays came and went as we have decided to cancel the share, by presenting a program for one help promote the joys and rewards of we celebrated with smaller gatherings, February Expo Hunting Show and in of our monthly members meetings, to hunting. One way to be a great ambas- mostly with our immediate families and November, following a vigorous please email me or [email protected] to sador for the outdoor lifestyle and enjoyed this precious time spent conversation about our banquet at the get on the schedule. We enjoy a social conservation is to simply share your together. Stadium View in Green Bay we gathering, an excellent meal and your moving images with the broader public. In 2020, Americans and other decided to cancel this event as well. program highlighting your hunting or Like a virtual adventure, your short country populations were affected with Due to tightening restrictions and fishing skills, your trophies, and the videos can bring to life what it’s like to the Corona-virus including hunters, weighing out the costs of the banquet beautiful backdrop in which your be a hunter and conservationist. outfitters, hunting guides, fishing and and possibly having to cancel at the adventure takes place. As a reminder, It’s easy to share what you have any other sport enthusiast. Hunting last minute we felt it was the best and visit our website for updates on all our recorded already. Plus, here are tips for and fishing excursions came to a only decision to make. We are aware activities.

6 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 7 Lake Superior Legislative Update: Chapter Report Election season by Burl Johnson, President 4. How far are you finally ends! ood news for chapter members willing to travel for a is that the Lake Superior different venue? by Dan Trawicki, SCI Lobbyist consequences” has never been truer GChapter is financially sound and 5. How likely are you to ur Wisconsin gun season ended than this election. If President-elect in good shape where we are currently bid on hunt auction for me yesterday. Our group Biden actually puts Beto O’Rourke in sitting. items outside of the Ooverall saw quite a few deer, and charge of his firearms policy and We want to hold a 2021 Spring United States? my daughter connected on a nice 10 pt. agenda we could be in real trouble. Banquet. The Covid-19 guidelines have We also shared this opening day. Hopefully all of you had a O’Rourke has come out publicly against been hard to work around especially in full disclosure for those chance to get out. For once the weather private ownership of AR-15 type rifles Minnesota. of you who prepaid for on opening day was close to perfect. and has indicated he would have law Our board of directors has been last year’s banquet: Snow would have helped, but cool enforcement officers intervene on any working hard to come up with a plan There are 130 individuals who a year’s worth of trips and hunters not temperatures and calm winds were violation of a mandatory buyback. Let for this year’s banquet and we reached prepaid and allowed us to keep their being able to travel, me included. I was nice. The DNR is reporting that as of wait and see. Like I said, “Elections out to all chapter members here again registration. Based on the restrictions supposed to leave today for Calgary November 15, the crossbow and have consequences.” these past few months to make sure and guidelines, we have room for only Canada but I’m unable to cross the archery kill combined for close to a On a local front, the Wisconsin legis- everyone knows that we welcome your 120 more members. For that we are border. We have the understanding 4,000 increase in deer totals. Crossbow lature is due to come back in session thoughts and suggestions. providing the right of first refusal, some outfitters are doing really well in particular was up substantially from on January 4 right after the inaugura- As of the beginning of November, meaning that if you’re not willing to and some not the best. We do not the same time in 2019. Opening tion. For SCI that means once again the we knew that, if we held our banquet attend we completely understand. Full want anyone to be financially strained weekend of gun season totals were up beginning of the process to look after at the Grand Casino Hinckley, MN the refund will be given back to you. The in the coming year. approximately 2%. A reported 6% your constitutional right to hunt and fish. here in Wisconsin. It will be a great following stipulations would be in cost of the dinner still has to be deter- Contact me directly if you’re inter- increase in license sales could have The RR crossing bill will be at the top of opportunity to bring our wolf population place, and that these are government mined and the menu will be set ested in donating but please remember something to do with that. Both the list. I have been contacting many of back down to established goals, create mandates that cannot be changed: sometime in January about the time I cannot make any promises. numbers are encouraging! our legislators who have in the past a great hunting opportunity, and give • No more than 250 people could be this issue of HUNTERS arrives in your And, finally, you probably heard that On a completely different note, on a supported this bill and feel good about our deer and elk a much-needed break in attendance at the event; mailbox. Everyone who did allow us to the big SCI convention in was local and national scale our election it moving forward. from nonstop predation. • We would be unable to have any keep their cash will be eligible for a canceled for 2021, so please update process has also ended. The one As many of you are aware, the grey As for now we still have muzzleloader vendors/outfitters at all displaying special raffle yet to be determined. your calendar and plan to attend SCI exception is Georgia which has a run off wolf has once again been delisted, SCI hunts, late season archery, and some in the hallway; Lastly, we are not accepting any 2022 in Las Vegas. See safariclub.org election to determine the fate of the will be looking to see how a new antlerless opportunities to keep us • Masks would be required at all donations at this time. We already have for dates and details. Senate. The old saying “elections have management plan will be implemented busy. Stay healthy and stay safe! times unless you have food or drink in hand; Legislative Update: • All meals will be plated; Wolf Season Set • We would only be allowed to have a one-day event on Saturday; he Wisconsin DNR announced and trapping, will be conducted in a Trump administration returns management and • There would be no Wine/Women/ the official wolf season will begin transparent process in which public protection of the grey wolf back to the states and tribes Nov. 6, 2021. Implementing a and tribal participation is encouraged, Wolves Cheese event due to staffing T issues from the Casino; and season requires time to develop a and that the new wolf management by Dan Trawicki, SCI Lobbyist Wisconsin wolf population is 350 . Knowing the effect of that bill • Raffles and auctions would be science-based harvest quota and plan will reflect “our increased under- recent decision by the US Fish animals. and the return of management is hard scaled down to accommodate engage partners in development of a standing of the biological and social and wildlife to return manage- Randy Johnson who is the Large to tell. In the past, Sen. Ron Johnson these restrictions. season plan that reflects interests of issues relevant to wolf management… Ament of the grey wolf back to the Carnivore Specialist for the DNR in has also been a very outspoken advo- We considered doing a formal diverse stakeholders. and…ensure sustainable management states is great news for the upper Wisconsin said that our population is cate of returning management of wolves statistical survey but decided instead The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of for the future.” Midwest, in particular Wisconsin. “robust, and the majority of wolf packs to the states. to simply ask for your ideas and delisted grey wolves from the federal DNR will create a Wolf Management Wisconsin was able to conduct a are within areas already occupied by suggestions. So we asked the following list of endangered species on Jan. 4, Plan Committee representing diverse wolf hunt for 3 years based on popula- wolves.” Essentially meaning that packs questions and invited members over 2021, returning management authority interests of government agencies, tion estimates and the science of the are not expanding their range. The the last few months to provide any to the lower 48 states and tribes. non-governmental organizations, wolf recovery. In 2014 however, the exception we see with some regularity comments or suggestions that would Under Wisconsin law, when the wolf is tribes and others. The existing wolf hunts ended after lawsuits claiming that is sub adult males looking for mates be helpful to the situation: delisted, the state’s annual hunting and management plan, originally approved the wolf recovery was not complete, and leaving the core area of range. 1. Would you attend the banquet as trapping seasons resume. in 1999, was reviewed and updated in and additional time was necessary for While Johnson admitted the DNR does described above? The recovery of grey wolves is a 20 07. recovery of the species. not have a current wolf management 2. Would you vote to postpone the triumph. The most recent monitoring For now, it remains unlawful to It is currently estimated that there are plan, they would create one when the banquet until 2022 when we may effort indicated a minimum of 1,034 shoot a wolf unless there is an imme- over 6,000 wolves in the lower 48 with wolf is delisted. have a full 3-day event? wolves in Wisconsin, primarily across diate threat to human safety. On a MINIMUM of 1,100 wolves in US Congressman Tom Tiffany 3. Are you willing to attend a banquet the northern third of the state and the private land, you can shoot and kill Wisconsin, which is a 13% increase (R-Minocqua) had just recently intro- at another location? Central Forest region. DNR said all wolves that are in the act of killing, from the previous year. As a point of duced legislation to delist wolves in wolf management, including hunting wounding or biting a domestic animal. interest, the established goal for the Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and

8 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 9 Badgerland Chapter Report Illinois & Chicago by Randy Mayes, President full force for ive yourself a pat on the back! 2022. Chapter Report Congratulate yourself! You’ve Yo u c a n done it! You made it through still support by Dale Rimkus, President education and conserva- G think we can all agree that it’s a relief tion projects. We know what is probably one of the craziest SCI in many years of your life! ways through to have 2020 behind us. Although it is you’ll have fun, you’ll meet I sincerely hope that you had at least attending live Istill sad that this year’s Annual SCI some outstanding people, a few gems amongst the bag of coal events that Convention in Las Vegas had to be and you’ll get a great we were handed in the form of the year will still be canceled, I think there will be much to sense of pride and we just went through which shall held as well look forward to in 2021. For starters, accomplishment! remain nameless. It was the “gift that as partici- mark your calendars now for the Illinois Our hunting heritage is kept on giving!” pating in the & Chicago Chapter’s 49th Annual something of which we all Maybe one of your gems was a many online Banquet and Fundraiser on April 10th at should be justifiably proud. hunting trip you actually took. Maybe it auction options. The Badgerland the Rio Conservation Club in Rio, WI Medinah Shriners in Addison. You read We share a common goal to protect seasoned hunter to understand and was just being able to spend more time Chapter will be having a great online on June 12, 2021. See our web site for that right--our chapter has been doing that heritage not only for ourselves, but promote wildlife conservation, and to hunting around home. Looking at auction on February 13, 2021. Visit our more info on that as well. this for 49 years! This year’s event will also for future generations. Many of us help preserve our legacy. If you have a some of the deer harvest numbers, it web site to find out more on that. As you move ahead this year, don’t be in a wonderful setting, and will have young children or grandchildren, passion and you share that passion appears there were a lot of people who www.scibadgerland.com forget about the outfitters who have feature great food, open bar, raffles and and as they grow up we want them to with others then you are doing your had more time to spend in the Another great event to plug into your had a VERY tough time trudging auctions that have something for have the right to hunt and to own fire- part. If you value freedom and liberty, Wisconsin woods chasing whitetails calendar is the Badgerland Sporting through this. What better way to boost everyone. It is the largest and best arms if they choose. We hope there will and your right to hunt and own firearms, this fall. Clays shoot followed by a new, fun, your moral and help our great outfitters sporting banquet in the state of Illinois, be places where they can hunt on then do as your ancestors did and Unfortunately one of the lumps of indoor/outdoor banquet! We will than booking a hunt! so if you can attend only one event, this public land. We hope they will be able make your voice heard. coal we received was the cancellation have a VERY generous amount of Keep your head up and know that is it! After having to change last year’s to enjoy the same rights that we have As Archibald Rutledge wrote in Why of many SCI events. I’m confident that GREAT guns to give away as well as the last several months are behind us. fundraiser to online only, this year’s now as hunters, without excessive inter- I Taught My Boys to Hunt (1932): our great, “normal,” chapter and trips and other wonderful items to That alone should be some incentive to event promises to be a real barn burner! ference from government. The stand we “It has always seemed to me that any national events will all be back in auction off! The event will be held at excel in 2021! I’d like to thank all our chapter take today will determine whether our man is a better man for being a hunter. members who voted in the recent future generations will enjoy the right to This sport confers a certain constant chapter election. Your involvement in hunt. alertness, and develops a certain the election and at meetings and events For over a century hunters have been ruggedness of character that, in these helps reaffirm that our chapter is going the pillars of conservation in America, days of too much civilization, is Kaminski guns for sale where you want it to go. And we invite doing more than anyone or any govern- refreshing; moreover it allies us to the Fred & Shirley Kaminski are selling these guns, optics and safe. If you to become more involved in the ment agency to conserve wildlife and pioneer past. In a deep sense, this great you’re serious about buying one or more of them, please call 608-253-6554. chapter and our many humanitarian, its habitat. You don’t have to be a land of ours was won for us by hunters.” 1. Smith & Wesson M-48-7 .22 Mag 4" BBL, 12. Rem 700 XTR .300Rem. Ultra Mag, 26" blue, NIB...... $ 800 Blackened S/S, Fred's long-range rifle...... $ 850 2. Springfield Armory .45 ACP SDS 3" BBL, blue, 13. Browning Belgium FN Mauser/Safari Rifle Hunting Works for Illinois, Wisconsin and America New, No box, 3 clips...... 550 30-06 Blue/Walnut 22" bbl. 95% Pre '63...... 1,000 he firearms industry’s trade association, publicly to how their members value the us hunters and gun owners feeling like we’re 80% wood "very accurate rifle" "My personal WI deer rifle the National Shooting Sports Foundation, important buying power of hunters and shooters. always playing defense.” 3. Howa 1500 30-06 with 3-10 Nikko since 1963" hired Public Affairs Company of Minne- Taking it to the next level, Hunting Works has He shared an example of statistics he is Stirling Scope, NIB...... 500 T 14. Ruger #1AB 25-06 26" bbl. Henry Forearm, apolis to proactively generate positive publicity asked Mark LaBarbera & including in the Illinois video: 4. Win M-70 Deluxe .270, Like new...... 600 Blue/Walnut NIB ...... 1,100 about the economic benefits of hunting and Associates to produce 20 • $1.3 billion spent annually. "At the time I purchased it, it was the 1st & only M-AB the factory target shooting. Their successful campaign was customized videos, one for 5. Win M-70 Featherweight, 30-06, 22" BBK, Blue, had ever offered" "A beautiful rifle & a collector's treasure. • 512,000 people hunt in Illinois each year. Walnut, NIB...... 900 cleverly named Hunting Works for America and each Hunting Works • Of those hunters, 51,000 are from out of 15. Win M-94 (pre-64) 30-30 Win. Lever Action 20" bbl. it expanded to 20 states so far, including Hunting state. The two-minute 6. H&R SB2 Ultra, .223 Rem. Heavy Barrel, "long wood" ...... 900 state. Works for Illinois and Hunting Works for videos will be used • Illinois hunters spend $273 million on Blue, Wood, New no box...... 500 Excellent Condition 98% perfect Wisconsin. online and at public trip-related expenditures. 16. Ruger Blackhawk .357 Mag 6 1/2" bbl. S/S 98% TV stations, radio broadcasters, online meetings of civic groups, 7. Win M-70 Super Grade .300 Win Mag, Blue, • Hunters in Illinois spend $235 million on Condition w/ original box...... Call media, newspapers and magazines have carried social clubs, community Walnut, NIB...... 1,600 hunting equipment. 17. Kimber Crimson Carry 9mm, Blue, NIB...... Call the pro-hunting and pro-shooting sports organizations, business associa- 8. Win M-70 Super Grade .300 Win Mag, Blue, messages to the public using facts, real busi- tions and anywhere the non-hunting public can • Each hunter spends an average of $2,400 Walnut, NIB...... 1,600 18. NA Brand Model 1AA 22mag, ness impact stories and economic statistics. discover this great story. Short and sweet, the a year in Illinois. 9. Wby Vanguard .257 Wby Mag, Blue, Single shot, NIB ...... 300 Small business owners from communities videos are being designed as a quick, engaging • Hunter spending translates to $700 Composite, NIB...... 750 19. 1Win 62 Pump, Pre 64 98% .22 LR...... 750 across the country lend their voice and their message that will leave a lasting impression as million in salaries and wages. name as Hunting Works partners to help tell the they create positive awareness among the target • Hunting in Illinois supports over 18,000 10. Wby Vanguard .300 Wby Mag, Blue, 20. Pair of Zeiss 20 x 60 Image Stabilization story. Local chambers of commerce, tourism audience. Illinois jobs. Composite, NIB...... 750 Binoculars with leather case. Like new...... 3,000 agencies, hotel and motel associations, grocery “It’s a pleasure to be part of this huge • Hunters pay $158 million in state and 11. Win M-1300, Pump 12 ga, 3" Turkey Gun 98% 21. Zanotti Gun Safe: Holds 52 guns, upper trade groups, convenience store and petroleum national effort to positively promote the shooting local taxes. Condition...... 600 shelves, "portable" (can be taken apart)...... 2,000 marketers continue to join free and testify sports,” said LaBarbera. “It’s a lot better than • Creating a $2.2 billion ripple effect.

10 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 11 Wisconsin Chapter Report Wisconsin’s Green Fire offers by Charmaine Wargolet, with our incredible SCI friends! It is President held at Seven Seas restaurant where Opportunities Now Report on Wolves o, your Wisconsin chapter board the food is excellent, and the setting is has continued to work hard to lovely! n light of the 2021 planned • The Wisconsin Department of maintaining the population within keep our chapter alive and Hope everyone had a great deer removal of federal Endangered Natural Resources (WDNR) should 2016-20 levels (around 866-1034 S Species Act protections for gray proceed conservatively by wolves) until a new wolf conserva- vibrant! We had a great September season and I hope to see lots of “I and October member meeting and in pictures at the coming events! wolves, Wisconsin needs a new wolf tion plan is developed and November the 2021 banquet And speaking of one of those conservation plan, new policies, and approved by the Natural committee members met in full and coming events, the January member- legislation to provide appropriate Resources Board. they are still planning a great event! If ship meeting to be held at Bullwinkle’s conservation for this iconic species,” • Wisconsin needs legislation we do not meet with any extreme new Sports Bar on Bluemound Road will according to Wisconsin’s Green Fire. that returns authority for deter- COVID rules by January 21, the Board be both fun and interesting! Joel “Currently, Gray wolf conservation mining need and specifics of a will make the absolute final decision to Kleefisch will be talking about his hunt and management is informed by an wolf harvest to the WDNR and sign the contract at our new venue and in for three species of animals outdated Wolf Management Plan Tribes with strong public input. complete the full steam ahead and also will touch on the Coues Deer from 1999,” the group said, adding, • Make sure that Wisconsin’s planning! hunt that he and member/director John “In our new Opportunities Now diverse American Indian Nations There are many of us pretty excited Miller went on together. Joel is a fun Report, we lay out a clear set of and their rights and interests are to make this happen! speaker and Bullwinkle’s is a conve- recommendations to tackle these recognized and respected in any As I write this our Christmas party is nient location for most folks. So please issues and set Wisconsin’s management decisions or new this week, Friday December 4, and we join us! bringing a small degree of normalcy management of the gray wolf up for management plans. Wolves are will practice full social distancing, but Well, as the new year begins, my back to all of our lives. But until then, success.” culturally significant to their want to enjoy this holiday celebration fervent hope is that 2021 starts be well! Here are the group’s three key people and way of life. recommendations: Learn more at wigreenfire.org. New Hunter Shares Excitement CI chapters support efforts to group’s “Pheasants by the Fox” learn at how much I learned that weekend. I recruit, retain and reactivate to hunt event. went to a Women on the Wing event a Shunters of all ages. It’s great New hunter Jennifer Rees was so couple of weeks ago and broke a lot of when a group receiving SCI funds enthused about being introduced to clays, then got one hen and shot the follows up with photos or stories about the sport that she wrote, “I am so sorry tail feathers off of a rooster (oops) and how the funds were used. it took me this long to get the pictures someone next to me took him down. Years ago, SCI gave to the to you, but I had fun looking back On behalf of all of us students, thank Becoming An Outdoors-Woman through them and hope you do too. I you so much to you and the event’s program, which is currently need of think it’s safe to say I am completely sponsors. Please share our gratitude new funding. BOW’s Peggy Farrell hooked on this sport, and am amazed with all who made it possible.” helped Jerry Schenck and the Friends of Poynette Game Farm a few months ago as they recruited new pheasant hunters. FPGF President and Board Chair Paul Mayer shared this feedback from one lady who participated in the

Jennifer discovered wing-shooting and converted her success into a pheasant pie

12 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 13 Chanez Receives $2,000 WOCA/ Downrange Confidence, Strings Attached here’s a reason the Crossfire® II For a list of specifications, frequently distributes a complete line of premium OHEC Scholarship; Who’s Next? 2-7x32 Crossbow Scope is so asked questions and high-resolution sport optics, accessories, and apparel. ictoria Chanez, won the annual For more information about Tpacked with shooter-friendly images, check out the Vortex New Dedicated to providing unrivaled $2,000 Outdoor Heritage how to apply, contact Laurel. features. Wisconsin-based Vortex Product Portal. For more information, customer service and exceptional VEducation Center’s scholarship [email protected]. listened to SCI members and other visit VortexOptics.com and be sure to quality, Vortex backs its products with from the Wisconsin Outdoor Chanez is an undergraduate Vortex customers who hunt with a follow Vortex Optics on Instagram, the unconditional, transferrable, lifetime Communicators Association, and now at the University of Wisconsin- crossbow, and then delivered this new Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. VIP Warranty. Built on over 30 years of the search begins for next year’s Platteville. According to scope to fit their real-world needs. American owned, veteran-owned, experience in the optics industry, ® winner. SCI members are invited to Steffes, “Victoria demonstrated It starts with a reticle designed for Wisconsin-based Vortex Optics Vortex has emerged as a leader in the share this opportunity with family and a strong interest in outdoor the crossbow hunter who needs versa- designs, engineers, produces, and optics market. friends. communications and tility and range. Red and green “OHEC & WOCA are on track to submitted impressive tear illumination allow for confident low-light offer a 2021 scholarship to a Wisconsin sheets.” shooting. The reticle is also built to be undergraduate or graduate student Chanez is grateful for the zeroed at 40 yards, and accurate out to with a demonstrated interest in outdoor scholarship, saying, “Thank 100 yards with holdover points. ® communication,” said Laurel Steffes, you so much for all of these And, unique to the Crossfire II WOCA Board Secretary. opportunities. If there is 2-7x32 Crossbow Scope, the subten- sions are accurate at 4x for a 380 feet per second crossbow, but Vortex® also included the magnification power and feet per second on the magnification ring, making the optic compatible with a wide variety of crossbows. The Crossfire® II 2-7x32 Crossbow Scope comes standard with rings, flip caps, and a neoprene cover, so it’s ready to mount right out of the box. And, if shooters prefer their own rings, anything I can do to help, please let me its 30mm tube is compatible with many know.” ring and mount options. Providing background information, And the best part? It’s a Crossfire, Chanez said, “I am an environmental so you know it’s built for the field but at engineering major with a chemistry an affordable price. It lists for $279.99. minor. I am involved with the Society of Women Engineers and the Pioneer Student Victoria Chanez helped Sportsman’s Club. I am also a research Wisconsin DNR band geese last year. assistant working with clay liners as a potential nuclear waste container.” Vortex Renews Support for Deer Hunt Wisconsin TV She explained, “Originally from ortex Optics of Barneveld, Wisconsin Vortex understands Deer Hunt Wisconsin In addition to SCI Wisconsin, Lake Superior Oshkosh, I chose environmental engi- renewed its support for Deer Hunt viewers and their equipment needs, according to and Badgerland Chapters, Deer Hunt Wisconsin neering because of the conservation VWisconsin as the award-winning TV special Small. “As they prepare for each deer season, sponsors include Access Ability Wisconsin, club I am a member of near my home- celebrates its 30th year on the air. they’re looking for tips and gear that will help American Honda Motor Co. , Hunting Works for town. We raise pheasants and do other “Mark was using Vortex binoculars, range- them put venison in the freezer no matter what Wisconsin, LeRoy Meats and Catering, MEC, environmentally sustainable activities. finders, riflescopes and spotting scopes long Mother Nature throws at them. Check out Vortex Outdoor Heritage Education Center, Outdoor News In addition to the conservation club, I before Vortex joined us as a sponsor,” said celeb- Nation online and you’ll see what I mean. They get Publications, QuietKat Electric Bikes, The Range founded the outdoors section for my rity host Dan Small. us,” he said. of Richfield, Vortex Optics, Whitetail Sanctuary high school newspaper in hopes of The show written, produced and directed by Deer Hunt Wisconsin features segments each Solutions, Wildlife Research Center, Wisconsin encouraging others to find a similar SCI members Dan Small and Mark LaBarbera airs year that showcase successful everyday DNR and Wisconsin Lake & Pond Management. passion for the outdoors.” each year in early November on public TV, Fox hunters—young and old—overcoming barriers to Wild Eagle Lodge of Eagle River, Wisconsin is That column also won awards for Sports North, and Fox Sports Wisconsin, plus participation, with updates on new rules and the show’s Official Host Resort. SneakyHunter stories regarding hunting and online year-round. regulations, season dates and hunting opportuni- Boot Lamps are the Official Light. Huntworth is sustainability. “We’re so happy to work with the great folks ties on public land, plus a region-by-region the Official Clothing of Deer Hunt Wisconsin. Looking to the future, Chanez said, at Vortex,” said Small, “because they have what forecast for where you hunt. As always, the For final Deer Hunt Wisconsin airtimes, check “I am looking forward to starting my we and our viewers and online followers need program will deliver a strong safety message for November television listings in your area or search career and hope to find a job that to be successful in the field, and they stand all hunters. The program also covers the tradition YouTube and Facebook. To contribute any amount allows me to make a positive difference behind it forever with the Vortex VIP Warranty. of deer hunting, the joys of mentoring new toward this educational public outreach effort or while improving our way of life as well Plus, their world headquarters is right here in hunters and an important update on chronic sponsor the show, email WiSCImag@peoplepc. as the environment. Wisconsin.” wasting disease (CWD). com.

14 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 15 Hunt Report: Father & Son Gator Adventure by Denny Roach was a father-son hunt, Deven I got lucky when we spotted We took the gators back to t was a beautiful summer day and I had agreed that we would another 10-foot gator on our Carl’s place where they were as we drove to Fort Pierce, both shoot simultaneously to way back. We saw it swimming hoisted up for pictures. That’s IFlorida. My son, Deven, and I increase our chances of about 30 yards out from the when it sinks in just how large traded off driving duties while anchoring the gator right where bank. As with the first gator, and ferocious-looking these telling stories of past hunts and it lay. We crept a little closer, Deven and I got our rifles ready gators are. After the photos sharing expectations of our took careful aim, and our rifles for another simultaneous shot. were taken a gent named upcoming hunt. It made the time fired in unison. Again it was a good hit. Carl “Ducky” took up the task of go by faster and we finally Our aim was good; we did was able to throw a line with a cleaning and skinning the two arrived at Davison’s Alligator well, and the gator didn’t move large treble hook to snag the big gators. He cut up the meat Hunts, where we were greeted from that spot. gator and pull it into shore. On and packaged it, then froze it for by Carl “Gatorman” Davison. It Deven and one of the team its way into shore we were our ride home. The meat tasted was a warm and friendly members took their shoes off surprised to see that it wasn’t very good, almost like chicken. welcome, and from that point on and got into a small canoe to dead, so we put another round We had two awesome we were treated like family. cross the 40 yards of water to into it to finish off this very tough, trophies, a lot of meat, and a On the first day of our hunt, get to the dead gator. It turned almost prehistoric animal. great father and son hunt! we scouted and saw many alli- out that the island was not an gators, all of them were around island. They stepped out of the six feet long and deemed too canoe into knee-deep water small for us. covered in dense vegetation. It The next day we saw a was quite a struggle, but they 10-footer sleeping on what finally managed to get the looked like a small island. I was 400-pound gator into the canoe. carrying my .308 and Deven The journey back to shore was using Carl’s .243. Carl was exciting as the canoe listed stealthily maneuvered us ever heavily to one side with its over- closer. size load of a big gator and two One of the many challenges young men. But they made it to in gator hunting is to hit a very shore and we eventually had to small target, the brain, which is pull the canoe with the gator in about the size of a silver dollar it up a steep bank with Carl’s just behind the eye. Since this pickup truck.

16 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 17 CI members who care about the DNR’s GoWild! system, or them,” said David Clutter, placement of lunker structures to Wisconsin wildlife and say through donations made on Executive Director of the Natural improve fish spawning habitat, Syes to the Cherish question CherishWisconsin.org. Of the 4 Resources Foundation of including both game and rare fish when they buy their licenses cele- million annual license purchasers, Wisconsin. “More and more people and aquatic invertebrates. brate a $1 million milestone as the approximately 1% choose to are seeking high-quality places to “The Cherish Wisconsin conservationistsCherish here build an donate, with an average donation recreate, and we’re realizing just Outdoors Fund exists so we can endowment fund to provide of $5. how much our state parks, natural start now to ensure the future permanent funding for habitat Wisconsin has 1.5 million acres areas, forests, prairies, lakes and enjoyment of our lands, waters management projects on public of publicly owned forests, prairies, strewwams enrich our lives.” and wildlife,” said Caitlin land. parks, streams and lakes. Over the For every $1 million in the Williamson, Director of Created in 2012 by a unified past two decades, the increased endowment, approximately Conservation Programs for the bipartisan act of the Wisconsin demand for conservation lands to $50,000 or about 5% per year will Natural Resources Foundation. State Legislature, the Cherish recreate on has outpaced the be distributed for land steward- “The fund will last lifetimes Wisconsin Outdoors Fund is an growth in the state’s capacity to ship. Previously funded sites because our precious lands and endowment that provides a perma- manage these lands, according to include the Lawrence Creek Fish waters must last lifetimes. When nent source of funding to care for Keith Warnke, DNR Fish, Wildlife and Wildlife Area, the Tyrone Tract you support the fund, you support Wisconsin’s public lands for and Parks Division Administrator. of the Lower Chippewa River State our public lands — now and generations to come. The “The use of Wisconsin’s public Natural Area, Bluff Creek and forever.” Legislature established the fund to lands has increased in recent Clover Valley Fen State Natural The public can donate to the protect, restore, and improve years, and so have barriers to Areas in the Southern Kettle fund through the DNR’s GoWild! Moraine State Forest. licensing system, online through habitat for Wisconsin’s plants and keeping them healthy, thriving Projects are selected by a stake- the CherishWisconsin.org website animals. and pristine,” Warnke said. holder group including or by mailing a donation made to “The growth of the Cherish Fund “Addressing unprecedented organizations such as Back- the Natural Resources Foundation illustrates the importance that challenges such as invasive country Hunters and Anglers, of Wisconsin, ATTN: Cherish Wisconsinites place on access to species and increased flooding Friends of Wisconsin State Parks, Wisconsin, 211 Paterson St. Suite public lands and the investment in requires more resources. To Natural Areas Preservation 100, Madison, WI 53703. the future of our natural ensure these lands are available, Council, Pheasants Forever, Rocky resources,” said DNR Deputy viable and continue to benefit our Mountain Elk Foundation, Ruffed Secretary Beth Bier. “Public lands economy, we must work together Grouse Society, Trout Unlimited, The Natural Resources pay dividends for generations to to properly manage them.” Wisconsin Bird Conservation Foundation of Wisconsin is a non- come.” The ongoing COVID-19 Partnership, Wisconsin Conser- The Cherish Fund is an opportu- pandemic has contributed to a vation Congress, Wisconsin profit organization that connects nity for people to invest in the recent surge of interest in Waterfowl Association and the generations to the wonders of public lands and waters where spending time outdoors. Wisconsin Wildlife Federation. Wisconsin’s lands, waters and wild- they recreate. The fund is held by Wisconsin state parks, trails and Examples of future projects that life through conservation, education, the Natural Resources Foundation forests have seen a 15% increase may receive funding include engagement and giving. Since 1986, of Wisconsin, a private nonprofit in attendance with more than 19.5 improving habitat and forest the foundation has contributed more 501c3 organization. In addition to million visitors from January to health, controlling invasive than $8 million to public and private major donations from individuals October in 2020. species, the restoration of conservation efforts to protect the and businesses, the fund “The Cherish Wisconsin wetlands, grasslands, forests and lands, waters, and wildlife of is also supported by donations Outdoors Fund is a gamechanger migratory bird habitat along Wisconsin. For more information made when people purchase a for Wisconsin’s public lands and migration pathways or the visit www.WisConservation.org. hunting or fishing license through waters and the people who enjoy

18 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 19 • Help the MacKenzie Envir- onmental Education Center in Natural Resources Foundation Poynette, Wisconsin, with outdoor education and skills training programs or interpre- Elects Mark LaBarbera Chair tive signage; he Board of Directors of the the natural resources challenges wildlife. Its Wisconsin Conservation • Enhance youth and adult charitable non-profit Natural facing all of us who cherish Endowment includes more than 100 outdoor sports education TResources Foundation of Wisconsin’s great outdoors,” said funds valued at approximately $8.8 efforts in Wisconsin, including Wisconsin elected new officers for LaBarbera, longtime national million. especially, but not limited to, 2021-22 at its November 19 virtual conservation leader and media After more than 30 years, the National Archery in the Schools meeting. The Board chose SCI Life executive who years ago set up Foundation still serves this role and and Explore Bowhunting Member Mark LaBarbera of Hazel NRF’s first outdoor sports educa- fills an important and unique Programs, youth fishing, Green near the Grant/Lafayette tion fund. conservation funding niche that no firearms safety and hunter skills County line as its new Chairman Located in Madison, Wisconsin, other organization does. The training, and promoting effective January 1. the Foundation is a nonprofit 501c3 Foundation embraces the power of ATV and snowmobile safety The NRF Board approved a new that was formed in 1986 as public-private partnerships. It training; slate of officers with Treasurer Tom declining budgets severely compro- recovers species from the brink of • Improve signage at Hard- Dott of Madison moving to Vice mised critical programs of extinction. And it continues to bring scrabble Prairie State Natural Chair, Finance Committee Chair Wisconsin’s Department of Natural substantial financial resources and Area in Lafayette County; David Adams of Franklin moving to Resources (DNR). With the support attention to priority projects of the • Help secondary education insti- Treasurer and continuing to run the of its donors and members, the DNR and other conservation part- tutions in Wisconsin provide Finance Committee, and Dr. Natural Resources Foundation of ners. The Foundation also provides scholarships for student’s Rebecca Haefner of Wauwatosa Wisconsin has boosted private sustainable funding for Wisconsin’s natural resource education, or NFR outgoing Chair Kristine Krause and LaBarbera serving as Board Secretary. sector investment and involvement most imperiled species and ecosys- help secondary institutions LaBarbera served as Treasurer for Wisconsin’s lands, waters and tems, while helping citizens explore, care for, and protect Wisconsin’s there will be more environmentally outside of Wisconsin provide before moving to Vice natural resources. literate citizens and future stewards scholarships for Wisconsin- Chair with current The Foundation works to protect for conservation to replace each based students’ natural Chair Kristine Krause Wisconsin’s natural heritage by passing generation.” resources education; and of Rhinelander, under supporting critical conservation Coni LaBarbera learned to hunt • Support production and airing whose term NRF hired work through its grant programs, from her uncle Keith Pickel in south- of natural resources program- new Executive offering opportunities for people to west Wisconsin, where she taught ming on public radio and public Director David Clutter, experience Wisconsin’s outdoors middle school. She has gone on to television in Wisconsin. completed a $1.1 through its trips, and providing a hunt and fish in a number of states The fund will not be used for million Evergreen means for people to help protect and has trained teachers from anything that benefits anti-hunting Fund endowment Wisconsin’s lands, waters, and across the United States at the SCI efforts, hinders access to public campaign and final- wildlife that they cherish most, Foundation’s American Wilderness lands and waters, or limits shooting ized its strategic plan through its diverse ways to give. For Leadership School in Jackson Hole, sports opportunities for youth or for the future. The more information, visit wisconser- Wyoming, where she specialized in adults. foundation has pros- vation.org. helping educators earn National The endowment fund aligns with pered exponentially NRF’s LaBarbera-Vaughn Archery in the Schools certification NRF’s public land management during the recent Outdoor Heritage Fund was estab- so they could go back to their support for improving habitat that decade thanks to lished in 2014 by SCI’s LaBarbera school districts to teach archery game species and other wildlife increased support and his wife Constance Vaughn and, ideally, create the next gener- need to survive. It also provides from a growing LaBarbera as a way to give back to ation of bowhunters. educational opportunities for youth number of conserva- the state’s natural resources and The LaBarbera’s established the and adults to learn how to hunt and tion partners and future generations. endowment consistent with values fish, a major source of conservation individual donors. “Hunters and anglers have to be shared by SCI members, including funding here and across the United NRF welcomes close to nature in order to have to: States donations from SCI success afield,” said LaBarbera, • Increase the public’s under- At the time, the donation marked chapters and indi- whose own connection to nature standing, appreciation and the largest single gift for an endow- vidual members who came from spending time hunting sense of stewardship for natural ment fund with the Foundation from can designate contri- and fishing with his mother and resources, America’s outdoor a current board member and it butions of any size to father, Betty and Joe LaBarbera, of heritage, and professional inspired other citizens and groups a special fund created West Allis. resource management, to contribute for the long-term by LaBarbera. He added, “Because of that including related activities such benefit of Wisconsin’s natural “Thanks to Chair connection, they have a deep as fishing, hunting and other resources. Donations of any size Kris Krause, the board appreciation for the environment shooting sports in Wisconsin; can be made out to and sent to NRF and professional staff, and want to help care for our • Increase wild elk, deer, turkey, LaB-Vaughn OHF, c/o Camille the NRF is positioned natural resources. If we can and game bird populations in Zanoni, 211 S. Paterson St., well to help address connect more people to nature, Wisconsin; Madison, WI 53703.

20 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 21 tends to stay in motion—they all made the decision to get up and move. And that made all the difference. They all shot nice bucks with Get Out their bows recently because they Successful hunters made choice to overcome inertia and just go. decided to spend even one hour by Mark LaBarbera They all are worn down by negative good for body and soul. People know outdoors. Brian Alt shot a nice att and Brayden Andrews, news, weary of wearing masks, it, but not everyone acts on it. buck after his daughter Lexi shot Chuck Cornett and his fatigued by mandates and stay-at- Isaac Newton discovered long ago a big buck and then her Mdaughter Cora, Jordan home advisories and saddened by not that a body at rest tends to stay at rest. 11-year-old sister Hailey shot her Williams, Brian Alt and his daughters spending as much time as they wanted It’s called inertia. first deer, a doe, all this season! Lexi and Hailey have a few things in to with family and friends during the As Andrews explained about his “I knew we had to get out Andrews thought he was seeing double when there,” said Brian. “With a cold this trailcam photo showed the deer Brayden common, but one thing makes all the holidays. recent outing, he wasn’t going to go Alt’s trailcam captured Lexi’s buck as it entered the eventually shot, along with a mirror image, difference in the world. They all, also, love spending time out; he was leaning toward staying field minutes before she shot it. front, a full moon and rising air possibly a twin. What do they have in common? outdoors. One benefit of the pandemic indoors. pressure, the mature bucks would be They all live in southwestern Wisconsin. is that more people here and across “I only had a couple hours before The thing that he had in common with moving.” later, this mature eight-pointer stepped Like you and other SCI members, the region are rediscovering the healthy dark and I questioned whether it would the others mentioned here, and with On the way into the blind, he told into our food plot. Instantly, I knew that they all are tired of dealing with the benefits of time spent afield. Hunting, be worth going out during that cold, other successful hunters and anglers, Lexi, “All the stars are in alignment.” buck from trail camera photos. I told COVID-19 precautions. hiking, and other outdoor activities are windy spell we had recently,” he said. is that they all made the decision to They sat for a couple of hours and Lex to get ready.” overcome inertia. Whether or not they could hear two bucks sparring. The He continued, “The buck fed for a knew the corollary to Newton’s sound of antlers clashing was clearly a short period then walked right toward Grandpa Gary, Brayden and Matt Andrews. discovery—that a body in motion, sign that mating season was heating us and, at 27 yards, he turned broad- up. side. I grunted to stop him. She put a Brian explained what perfectly placed arrow in him. He ran happened next: “Ten minutes about 50 yards before piling up! Proud

Matt Andrews 2020 bow buck

Cora Cornett. 22 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 23 Hailey Alt, 11, first deer.

Jordan Williams 2020 buck.

directly downwind,” Andrews explained. He released the arrow. Brian Alt bow buck. It hit home. The deer ran off and Chuck Cornett buck 2020. Andrews found it dead. Soon it Disappointed about the buck but was in the cold freezer and So, Matt and Brayden were hopeful happy about the doe, they hauled her Andrews was in his warm home. when they climbed into the tower blind back to the big shed they call “The His choice to get outdoors, his in that same area even though there Shop” near the house. move to overcome inertia and not was only about two hours of daylight There, with good lighting, Matt took be a body at rest, made all the left. another look at the recovered arrow. Brian and Lexi Alt 2020 buck. difference, just like it did for the “We were in the stand for only 5-10 One of the three vanes was peeled other successful hunters this fall. minutes,” said Brayden, “when a big away from the shaft a little bit, and dad moment. The emotions were Normally, that would be the end of doe came within 40 yards. I shot her there was a small hair wedged in the super high!” the story, but this past weekend, and saw where she dropped at the expandable broadhead. Lexi added, “This was my second Matt’s son Brayden shot two deer with edge of the woods.” “I thought the hair might just be from year bowhunting. I shot a doe, but I a crossbow. They decided to sit tight until the the arrow touching the doe when we had never taken a shot at a buck “It started when dad came to my end of legal shooting hours rather than hauled her home, but then I smelled before and was nervous, like real talk- room and said, ‘Let’s go hunting,’” disturb the area. Good thing they did. the arrow and it smelled like deer,” ative and jumpy. I was excited because explained Brayden. “It was windy, really An hour or so later, a big buck Matt said, “so I called some buddies it was my first buck.” windy, and cold. So, I dressed warm stepped out of the woods about 60 who came and looked at the arrow. We Both Lexi and Hailey admit that they and we went to the blind.” yards from the blind. It scented the agreed we should search for more sign were glad their dad urged them to get Matt had seen a doe popping in and dead deer and walked over to her. of a hit or the deer. We owe it to the outdoors. out of the woods. He suspected “Dad videotaped and we watched buck.” In Andrews’ case, he got in his stand she was in estrus and that bucks the buck try to get her to move before The next day, father, son, grandpa late in the afternoon. The cold, windy would be in that woods and grassy giving up and walking to about 40 and others spread out in the woods to weather was a chilling challenge for soybean food plot near it. Plus, his yards away,” Brayden explained. “I put walk a grid pattern. Before long, Matt’s anyone to sit still or stay long. The sight cellular trail camera had sent photos of the 40-yard pin on him, and dad yelled father-in-law found the dead buck. of a big buck made him temporarily a familiar buck to his phone earlier at the buck. It stopped and I shot, and “I couldn’t believe it,” said Brayden. forget the cold. He focused on the that day. Usually, he would have said the buck ran into the woods and out of “Grandpa yelled that he found it and I large rack and then on a spot behind that the buck’s crab claw split antler sight.” ran over there and saw it.” After photos the deer’s shoulder. He watched the was unique, but in September he had Father and son climbed down, and congratulations, they hauled the buck move closer and estimated the seen a trail cam photo of two bucks, searched and found the arrow, but it deer back to The Shop. distance. Optimism warmed the hunter. nose-to-nose, with the same distin- looked clean, with no sign of blood and “I was glad we went out hunting “I moved my single pin sight to 30 guishing feature called a “split G-4.” He no sign of the buck. instead of staying inside,” said yards and mouth grunted twice, and thought, maybe they were twin fawns “I think you missed it,” Matt told Brayden, “and I’m glad we went back then yelled, ‘Hey!’ right before he got years ago. Brayden. out to find my buck.”

24 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 25 Hunt Report: been hunting for moose, bear, and wanted to be in the boat heading down the water and start swimming west wolf. the river before sunrise. It is still hard across the lake. Dick came running. A couple of months before the hunt, for me to wrap my head around going My friend Duane says there are Dick called and, in an almost apolo- north to go down the river. three rules of moose hunting: Do not getic tone, informed me all he had for In Ontario you can hunt from a boat, shoot one far from camp, do not shoot me was a cow tag. Since I was meat but not shoot from a boat if it has a one in the water, and do not shoot two. Moose Redux hunting, I was perfectly OK with that. motor. We crept down the river looking I was thinking of these rules while we by Ron McClintic With processing and all, there was thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime Dick has about 17 moose tags avail- at the shoreline for moose or even paddled after the moose. thought I must have misheard. I approximately 440 pounds of meat, thing. To have it added to my honey-do able every year, in different hunting fresh moose tracks on the muddy They are surprisingly fast swimmers, thought I heard my wife say, “You filling a 21-cubic-foot freezer. It took my list, I was astounded. But I wasted districts. The one I was to hunt in, from bank. On my first moose hunt we saw and this one was on a course for a I have to fill the freezer back up with wife and I eating all we could, plus no time calling Dick Mansfield the main lodge, he just gets one a year. seven in moose that week, but no landfall the better part of a mile away. I moose.” Did she really tell me I had to several gifts of meat, plus two all-day of Winoga Lodge in Sioux Lookout, Usually they are for a bull, but once calves. This week was to be different. could see the spike antlers of a young go moose hunting? Turns out, yes, she open house barbecues celebrating our Ontario, and booking a hunt for 2019 every five years or so it is a cow tag. At various places, the river opened bull. made me go moose hunting. Truly I am son home on leave from the Navy, to (www.winoga.com). Winoga is I arrived on Sunday, the day before into lakes up to a mile across, or there After Dick rested a bit, we resumed a blessed man. finish it in 18 months. on Abram Lake with access to opener, and unpacked, hit the local were channels that led to other lakes. the hunt. Throughout the day we In October 2015 I succeeded on my Sure, the hunt was fun, and the Lac Seul. Certainly, a prime fishing grocery store, and got organized. We poked our nose into many of these paddled to various places and glassed, first moose hunt, bringing home a bull. meat was delicious, but I always spot, but my trips to Winoga have Monday was opening day, and Dick and would drift and glass. On Monday but no more moose were spotted. At we spotted a calf, but no one point we paddled up a winding mother, and later a bull. tributary to a substantial beaver dam, We snuck through a shallow peeked over and glassed that lake. westerly channel into a lake that Wednesday, we returned to the was nearly a mile across. We same lake. Obviously, there were headed south down the left moose in the area. This time we shore, in a light misty fog. In the headed along the north shore. In the distance I thought I was picking distance I picked up a moose, most something up. Sure enough, two likely a bull, moving north along the cows with two calves were in western shore, just inside the tree line. the southeast corner, feeding in There was a bay in the northwest about 3 feet of water. We idled corner, he was across that bay from the boat as near as we dared, us. We eased along the shore until we then Dick shut down and used a came to the beginning of the bay and canoe paddle, but at 500 or 600 hid behind a large cedar tree on a yards he eased us to shore and point of land. We got out and set up we headed in a circle overland. my tripod so I could stand and use my By the time we returned to the rifle scope and Dick my binoculars. shoreline, the moose were gone. Almost immediately a calf appeared We may have spooked them, or and started feeding. they may have been traveling, Where there is a calf, there is a cow. just getting a little snack. We I was a little leery of shooting a cow visited other locations, glassed with a calf, but Dick assured me the some more, but saw nothing calf was old enough to survive now else that day. without its mother, and it was perfectly On Tuesday we returned to legal to take the cow. After all the calf that same lake but this time with was six or seven months old and a canoe on the boat. Remember, almost as big as a horse. you can shoot from a canoe if We waited for what seemed hours there is no motor. We left the but was likely under 30 minutes, and boat hidden in the channel and sure enough, the cow materialized paddled into the lake, again along the shore and started feeding on heading south. Not seeing any the brush. I had already used the range moose in the feeding area from finder on the calf, it was 349 yards. I Monday, we headed to an island waited until the cow turned broadside near the south shore that had a and took my shot. view of where they were feeding, She was down and dead. There are but also of the entire lake. I some who would question a .300 Win settled in to watch the previous Mag against a moose at that range. location while Dick walked to the She did not just drop, the round other side, about 100 feet way. knocked her up and over. It had more After a couple of hours, I than enough punch. heard movement on the shore- We would learn later that she was Photo by Steve Hillebrand/USFWS line and saw a moose jump into quartering slightly at me. My round

26 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 27 flooded grass taking a rather chilly bath? We pulled I had brought two 120-quart coolers was no way I was going to get it causes outfitters to fill bait stations with sparse the canoe onto shore, lifted the quar- and one 100-quart cooler. I had to any sleep. I just kept going and made for bears during moose calving six-foot-tall ters out and put them over the bow, leave my leftover groceries with Dick, the 12-hour drive to Madison in one season. Bears are lazy and seem to brush. The cow then jumped in the boat and dragged as there was no room in the coolers shot. As it turns out, there was prefer doughnuts to calves. If they are was actually in them further aft. — the moose meat just fit. But as a rotator cuff tear and some injury to eating doughnuts, they are not running the middle of the After motoring back to the lodge, we were loading the coolers from my bicep. Eight months later, in June, down calves. brush feeding on towing the canoe (the moose took up the freezers and moving them into it finally had healed. I could draw Once the bear baiting ends, the it. So, I ended up the space previously occupied by the my pickup, I slipped on a wet leaf on my bow with no difficulty, so I could calves are big enough to outrun the breaking the rule canoe), Dick jumped out at his dock. the wooden steps to the freezers. head back to Winoga for a spring bear bears. This is a wonderful example of of do not shoot While he went to get a truck and boat It was just a couple of steps up, but hunt. science working to maintain a species. one in the water. trailer, I drove the boat down the shore I was going down and there was I saw 11 moose, four of which were There are plenty of bears, less moose, Luckily, it was a short distance to a public boat ramp nothing to grab. I wrapped up, fearful calves. Plentiful calves are a great sign yet moose hunts have a much larger not that deep; and waited on Dick. We just loaded the of trying to stop myself and breaking a of a healthy, thriving herd. Why did I economic impact. Ontario gets hunters our rubber boots boat, moose, and all, onto the trailer. wrist or an arm and landed on my left see so many this time? Dick attributed to fund the bear feeding strategy at no were tall enough When we got to the lodge, Dick had shoulder. the difference to the newly re-instituted cost to the province. And the bears get to keep us dry. a support beam extending from the To say it hurt was an understate- spring bear hunt. Ontario’s Ministry of fat. This seems like a win all the way W e f i e l d roof of the walk-in cooler, with an elec- ment. I could not use my left arm. And Natural Resources conducted a study around. dressed and tric hoist. He backed the boat under my clothes were no longer fit to wear, by collaring some bears and learned Call Dick and book a moose hunt. quartered her the hoist, I hooked on to a quarter, as in reacting to the pain, I rolled away the staggering number of newborn But if you miss out on available moose where she fell. raised it up, and Dick drove the boat and right into a nice mud puddle. calves they killed. tags, then book a spring bear hunt so The first moose I out of the way. We then lowered it, The pain kept me awake, so stop- Restarting the spring bear hunt next year a moose will be waiting for shot with Dick I skinned the hide off, and washed it ping at a hotel was useless, as there really does not kill that many bears, but you. watched his son with clean water. Then Dick carried it Troy perform this into the cooler, and we hung it to cool task with one and repeated that three more times. new blade in a There were already moose hanging Havalon knife in the cooler from other successful system, but they hunters. The next day, Thursday, the quartered it with butcher came to process one of them. a small chain I had nothing to do, so I helped. The saw reserved for butcher cut, Dick did additional trim- that purpose and ming (he has remarkably high with mineral oil standards, which my wife appreciates for bar oil. when she cooks) and I wrapped and We did not labeled. I also ground much of the have the chain trimmings into hamburger. It took over saw but did have four hours for that moose. At the time a saw blade for I was 60 years old and the youngest my Havalon. We guy in the room—by a lot. I do not essentially field know how they stood on that concrete dressed a large floor with no break (I had to take a moose cow (Dick break or three). The next day we did estimated her at my moose. It took almost six hours, 1,000 pounds partly because of the challenge the and I believe it) ruined shoulder presented to the with a pocket- butcher, of which he reminded me knife. I had asked more than once. Troy before if that My meat went in the chest freezers was all he used, to get it ready for the trip home. At this and his reply point, I was thinking it had been a was: “Yes, one highly successful trip. As it turns out, it took out her front right shoulder then blade per moose. What else would you was not quite over. My intention was to proceeded into the chest cavity. Hitting need?” At that point I stopped buying leave about noon on Saturday, stop in the big shoulder bone absorbed the knives and made sure I have plenty of Duluth, Minnesota, for the night, then energy from the round. Even at that Havalon blades. I am a convert. proceed on to Madison, Wisconsin. I range there was plenty of energy. I We pulled the canoe through the slept in, packed, and dressed in the could see the effect of the hit in my grass as far as we could, then loaded best clothes I brought to look present- scope, the reaction was impressive. the quarters and paddled back to the able at the U.S. Customs office: a nice, We paddled across the bay to learn boat. This resulted in a “what now” yellow Columbia fishing shirt and my what we were really seeing was not a moment. How to get the quarters out good Levi’s. The last thing to pack was defined shoreline but maybe 75 feet of of a canoe and into the boat without the meat.

28 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 29 • Even 40 acres of land, if properly managed, can attract and retain Whitetail Sanctuary Tips three or more mature bucks. • You need big healthy does as well “Deer Hunt Wisconsin” TV sponsor shares expertise with SCI members as big mature bucks to develop by Mark LaBarbera intrigued also by his tips for creating The “Deer Hunt Wisconsin” TV your herd into trophy status. he most successful hunters I trophy buck sanctuaries on your sponsor and expert guest shared • A ¼-acre pond can serve an entire know are good listeners who property. these tips: deer herd. Tobserve and absorb. With clients that keep him on the • Do not always walk to your stands • A deer’s sense of smell is 10 times They spend as much time as they road across the Midwest, Michael at the exact same time every time that of a human’s. The epithelium can hunting, but they also pay atten- Murphy of Whitetail Sanctuary you hunt. Trophy bucks will start to lining in the nasal passage of a tion to what is working for their friends Solutions, LLC is a retired professional pattern you. deer is very sensitive and and other avid deer enthusiasts. They civil engineer with more than 33 years • Do not hunt a stand more than increases in attracting scent mole- read articles, online posts and what- of experience in designing and building twice per week. Limit your time at cules when moistened. This is why ever they can find, and they watch thousands of projects. He is also a each stand, or a great stand will you often see deer licking their videos. lifelong deer hunter who knows how to quickly turn into a poor stand. noses when they sense danger. Some of them also hire consultants attract and hold deer, especially trophy They will know you are there. • Pay attention to not only prevailing in order to focus on key issues and to bucks, on properties that range from • Be scent aware. Anytime you enter winds but thermals as well and to tap into experts on that subject. They 40 acres to hundreds of acres. the property you should treat it as what is happening at your stand. know they can pack a lot of information Based in Dousman, Wisconsin, he a hunting trip. Also pay attention to • You are educating deer every time gathering into a much shorter time said you don’t need hundreds of acres winds and choose your stand you enter their living room (the frame and learn exactly what they want of hunting land to build your own accordingly. woods), so smell, sight, and sound to know right away. whitetail sanctuary. • A great stand will only remain a do make a difference. I recently met one of those consul- “Mature bucks respond to human great stand if you move that stand • Bucks becoming nocturnal is Michael Murphy of Whitetail Sanctuary Solutions shared this November 2020 photo of his son tants who teamed up with Dan Small’s pressure very quickly,” he said, “so at least 30 yards every three years. almost always due to human with Taylor’s first bow kill buck. It was shot in Crawford County, Wisconsin. “Deer Hunt Wisconsin” to share tips hunting smarter is the key to harvesting Deer will go 60 to 100 yards out of pressure. about proper stand location, but I was trophy bucks.” their way to avoid these areas. • Decent size bedding areas can • Dropping temperatures (10 to 15 those crunchy loud leaves on a hold both bucks and does, but a degrees) can result in increased cold morning walking to your small bedding area will not, except deer activity. stand. during the rut. • You can use straight doe urine, but For more information or a free • If you are hunting bedding areas, not in estrus, as cover scent. consultation, visit whitetailsanctuary you need to be there two hours • Rake trails on rainy days to keep solutions.com. before daylight. noise down, which also eliminates

30 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 31 Humanitarian Report: Feather Ridge Welcomes Disabled Hunters adgerland SCI Chapter member John Martinson Breported on the success of the “Feather Ridge Game Farm Disabled Pheasant Hunt” and thanked owners Katz and Gary Jackson and all sponsors. “We had a blast,” said Martinson. “What a thrill it is watching the dogs work the marsh and get the bird on point! It allows the hunter to get into position before the dog handler gives the command to flush.” Hunters Dustin Palenshus, Rick Schaffner, Chris Salmone, Randy Runge, Dale Rebernik, John Martinson, John Boie, Jeremy Lade, Pete Middlestat, and Jeff Pagels shot clay birds after the safety speech so helpers could evaluate how much assistance would be needed and to help the hunters get more comfortable with shooting. Hunter Ron Kusiak was others, will have free use of the Access position where you need to be, and in order to assist hunters and watch for scheduled to participate but Ability Wisconsin outdoor chairs that they tilt back for more stability while birds dropping out of the sky.” had health issues, so he will add mobility for everyone in the field. shooting.” All of the hunters shared their appre- be hunting later with Gary According to Martinson, “Each He said, “Dog handlers took two ciation for the opportunity to get Jackson volunteering to be hunter had their own track wheelchair hunters out at a time to planted birds outside, breathe fresh air and share dog handler. Kusiak, like the which was really nice because you can in the wild field. We had helpers along healthy companionship, thanks to the

32 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 33 Jacksons and sponsors SCI Badgerland Chapter, SCI Wisconsin Chapter, Wings Over Wisconsin Mayville, Access Ability Wisconsin, Kenny Martinson Country Financial, Jeff and Conner Ericksen, McFarlane Pheasants, Dane County Conservation League, Smitty’s Guns, and all the dog handlers, helpers, ground crews for their donations and help.

34 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 35 Post-Election Resiliency and Unity February 1945 commemoration reminds us again 75 years later to get along

he United States Marine Corps is expressed their concerns that a Jewish Rabbi Gittelsohn’s known as the “First to Fight.” The Rabbi would be delivering the dedica- TCorps is littered with a roll call of tion sermon at a mostly Christian Eulogy heroes and leaders that make other cemetery. Gittelsohn spared his friend THIS IS PERHAPS THE GRIMMEST, service branches blush. Names like any embarrassment and did not deliver and surely the holiest task we have Puller, Vandegrift, Basilone, LeJeune, his sermon during the dedication but faced since D-Day. Here before us lie Cates, Shepherd, Shoup, Krulak, did deliver it to his Jewish congrega- the bodies of comrades and friends. DelValle, Basilone…the list goes on tion at their own ceremony. Gittelsohn’s Men who until yesterday or last week and on. The battle history of the Marine friend, Chaplain Cuthriel, got his hands laughed with us, joked with us, trained Corps is similarly filled with places that on Gittelsohn’s sermon. He was deeply with us. Men who were on the same stand out in American military history. moved at what he read and forwarded ships with us, and went over the sides Places like Tripoli, Belleau Wood, a copy of the Rabbi’s sermon to those with us, as we prepared to hit the Wake, Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Peleliu, above him. beaches of this island. Men who Chosin, Khe Sahn, Hue, Fallujah, and Once Gittelsohn’s sermon reached fought with us and feared with us. many more. more receptive eyes, the power and Somewhere in this plot of ground Yet through all of those battles, one depth of the words he wrote quickly there may lie the individual who could stands out among all of the rest. It spread across the nation. Newspapers have discovered the cure for cancer. stands out because of the sheer from coast to coast printed the sermon Under one of these Christian crosses, heroism that seemingly was around in its entirety. Radio announcers read or beneath a Jewish Star of David, every rock and in every foxhole and it across the breadth of the country as there may rest now an individual who every pair of filthy, blood-stained the Rabbi’s poetic, forward-thinking dungarees. Heroism that stood out so prose fell on astonished and deeply was destined to be a great prophet to often that Admiral Chester Nimitz said touched American ears. find the way, perhaps, for all to live in before the battle was over, “Among the A native of Cleveland, Ohio, plenty, with poverty and hardship for Americans who served… uncommon Gittelsohn was a dedicated Zionist and none. Now they lie here silently in this valor was a common virtue.” ardent pacifist, before World War II. sacred soil, and we gather to conse- The battle is a pinnacle amongst all However, he was a firm believer that crate this earth in their memory. Marine Corps battles for the sheer the role of a rabbi was to lead by posi- IT IS NOT EASY TO DO SO. Some amount of American blood spilled in tive example, and therefore when the of us have buried our closest friends the 36 days on that one sulfur island in time came, believing that World War II here. We saw these men killed before the vast Pacific Ocean. It was a name was a “just war,” he volunteered for our very eyes. Any one of us might that none of those who fought on the service with the United States Marine have died in their places. Indeed, island had ever heard of before, but a Corps. Rabbi Gittelsohn’s assignment some of us are alive and breathing at name that none of the survivors would placed him into the 5th Marine Division, this very moment only because men They have paid the ghastly price another because of his faith or to enjoy the democracy for which all ever forget Iwo Jima. just prior to the landings on Iwo Jima. who lie here beneath us, had the of freedom. If that freedom be once despises him because of his color. of them have here paid the price. Over 26,000 Americans were casu- During the vicious fighting on the courage and strength to give their again lost, as it was after the last war, Here there are no quotas of how many TO ONE THING MORE do we alties on Iwo Jima. The Americans island, Gittelsohn provided much- lives for ours. To speak in memory of the unforgivable blame will be ours, from each group are admitted or consecrate ourselves in memory of suffered more casualties than the needed care for the thousands of Navy such men as these is not easy. Of not theirs. So, it be the living who allowed. Among these men there is no those who sleep beneath these defending Japanese, the one and only and Marine personnel wounded during them, too, can it be said with utter are here to be dedicated and discrimination. No prejudice. No crosses and stars. We shall not fool- time that imbalance occurred in the the fighting. As a result, he was truth: “The world will little note nor consecrated. hatred. Theirs is the highest and ishly suppose, as did the last entirety of the Pacific War. After the awarded three service ribbons for his long remember what we say here. It WE DEDICATE OURSELVES, first, purest democracy. generation of America’s fighting, that battle was over, three cemeteries were role during the fighting. can never forget what they did here.” to live together in peace the way they Anyone among us the living who victory on the battlefield will automat- established on the island, one for each It was after the fighting on Iwo Jima No, our poor power of speech can fought and are buried in war. Here lie fails to understand that, will thereby ically guarantee the triumph of division that fought there. The 5th was over, however, that the Rabbi truly add nothing to what these men and men who loved America because betray those who lie here. Whoever of democracy at home. This war, with all Marine Division’s Protestant Chaplain, made his mark on history. The sermon the other dead of our division who are their ancestors, generations ago us lifts his hand in hate against its frightful heartache and suffering, Warren Cuthriel, asked his colleague, he wrote for the fallen has become not here have already done. All that helped in her founding, and other another or thinks himself superior to is but the beginning of our genera- Jewish Rabbi Roland Gittelsohn, to Marine Corps legend, and holds a we can even hope to do is follow their men who loved her with equal passion those who happen to be in the tion’s struggle for democracy. When prepare and deliver a sermon at the hallowed place in the archives of the example. To show the same selfless nondenominational dedication cere- Corps. His forward-thinking words were because they themselves or their own minority, makes of this ceremony and the last battle has been won, there courage in peace that they did in war. mony for the 5th Marine Division’s nearly revolutionary in the mid 1940s fathers escaped from oppression to of the bloody sacrifice it commemo- will be those at home, as there was To swear that, by the grace of God cemetery. Rabbi Gittelsohn worked but were true to their very core. In her blessed shores. Here lie officers rates, an empty, hollow mockery. To last time, who will want us to turn our through the night on his sermon for his today’s society, the words that Rabbi and the stubborn strength and power and [privates], [Blacks] and whites, this, them, as our solemn, sacred backs in selfish isolation on the rest of fallen comrades. However, the preju- Gittelsohn spoke over his deceased of human will, their sons and ours rich and poor… together. Here are duty, do we the living now dedicate organized humanity, and thus to dice of the day reigned as the other warrior comrades are no less true, and shall never suffer these pains again. Protestants, Catholics, and Jews… ourselves: to the right Protestants, sabotage the very peace for which we Protestant and Catholic chaplains frankly, even more important. These men have done their job well. together. Here no man prefers Catholics, and Jews, of all races alike, fight. We promise you who lie here;

36 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 37 we will not do that. We will join hands Hunt Report: with Britain, China, Russia—in peace, even as we have in war, to build the Kevin Casey & Friends in Iowa kind of world for which you died. very year, Kevin Casey and his Wisconsin, he and they apply for an You are invited to attend the WHEN THE LAST SHOT has been friends and relatives find big shed Iowa deer tag. But they only draw a tag fired, there will still be those eyes that Eantlers on his property in south- every few years. This past hunting are turned backward not forward, western Iowa. And every year, as a season was one of those years. Here who will be satisfied with those wide non-resident landowner who lives in are some photos of their success. Safari Club International extremes of poverty and wealth in which the seeds of another war can breed. We promise you, our departed Illinois & Chicago Chapter comrades: this, too, we will not permit. This war has been fought by the common man; its fruits of peace 49th Annual must be enjoyed by the common man. We promise, by all that is sacred and holy, that your sons, the sons of Fundraiser & Banquet miners and millers, the sons of farmers and workers—will inherit from Saturday, April 10th, 2021 your death the right to a living that is decent and secure. WHEN THE FINAL CROSS has been Medinah Banquets placed in the last cemetery, once 550 Shriners Drive, Addison IL 60101 again there will be those to whom Donation $100 per person profit is more important than peace, who will insist with the voice of sweet Every ticket purchased will be entered reasonableness and appeasement to win $1,000 cash that it is better to trade with the enemies of mankind than, by crushing 5 hour open bar, dinner & auction them, to lose their profit. To you who Table Special - Buy a table for 10 and get sleep here silently, we give our over $300 in raffle tickets! promise: we will not listen: We will not forget that some of you were burnt with oil that came from American For more information and to get your tickets wells, that many of you were killed by go to our web site at: shells fashioned from American steel. www.sci-illinois.com/calendar/ We promise that when once again people seek profit at your expense, or call we shall remember how you looked 224-636-3758 when we placed you reverently, Questions? [email protected] lovingly, in the ground. THIS DO WE MEMORIALIZE those Here’s a sample of the great raffle prizes, silent auction and who, having ceased living with us, live auction items offered from past fundraisers: now live within us. Thus, do we conse- •African Safaris crate ourselves, the living, to carry on the struggle they began. Too much •Ladies Diamond Jewelry blood has gone into this soil for us to •North American Hunts let it lie barren. Too much pain and •Ladies Fur Coat heartache have fertilized the earth on •Fishing Trips which we stand. We here solemnly •Limited Edition Artwork swear this shall not be in vain. Out of •Upland Game Hunts this, and from the suffering and •Outdoor Gear sorrow of those who mourn this, will •Get-Away Trips come—we promise—the birth of a •Firearms new freedom for all humanity every- •One-of-a-Kind Items where. And let us say…AMEN. Over 100 unique items —Rabbi Roland Gittelsohn in our legendary Silent Fausti Progress GLX Auction! 38 WI SCI HUNTERS – January/February 2021 SCI Wisconsin Chapter c/o Janean Gehl W157N10472 Fieldstone Pass Germantown, WI 53022

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HuntersJuly_Aug2012.indd 32 6/22/12 1:36 PM