Land O’ Lakes Fish & Game Club FGC eNewsletter

Volume 72 Issue 2 October 2020 www.fshandgameclub.org

REFLECTOIN & FORWARD THINKING CALENDAR: Save the date FGC Conservation . Recreation . Education The Nature Conservancy of Wisconsin Event I STARTED ASSEMBLING THIS NEWSLETTER with the with John Bates speaking words “Both refection and forward thinking are abundant right now, during these days when we have more intimate time with our families. This newsletter is a chance for FGC to refect on all of the wonderful work we have done and our social outings we have had with the members and friends out in our beautiful northwoods!”

We will get to my newsletter plan, HOWEVER FIRST - I asked Pat Bielke, our treasurer, to send an email to you requesting summer adventure photos. I got such a good response that this is how I have choosen to start the newsletter layout. Have fun with the photos! Editor, Cheryl Pytlarz

nature.org/WINorthwoodsEvent Picnic on Lake Superior. Andy Kosseff

View during hike up Wolf Mountian off of Hwy 2, on FR9300, on October 2, 2020 1 Please thank Headwaters State Bank Happy feet on Lake Superior. Carolyn Rohlen/Denise Fauntleroy Happiness is an unexpected Musky! My grandson Owen Goffard caught and released this Musky on the Cisco Chain. Greg Wenzel

Renew Your 2021 Please Membership Today! Registration form on page 15 OR go to www.fshandgameclub.org

FGC participates each year at the NPLD workday the last Saturday in September.

Pictures while out on our pontoon. Still fnding time for fellowship. Eugene Clark Kathy Hirvela 2 Please thank Headwaters State Bank Dick and Diana Mehlhop went to Kitch-iti-kipi (Big Springs) in Palms Book near Manistique. An old coyote and a young racoon. Margie Marrs

North Country Trail hike in late July, “The Quiet Coast” heading 25 miles on foot east from Grand Marias, MI. Deb, Holly, Cheri

Is that musroom smiling? By Lois Bates [Cheryl adds - This is the wild honey mushroom. It is extremely delicious and it is one of the most favor wild mushrooms! (My favorite) They are one of the last edibles, coming out in late September.]

3 Please thank Headwaters State Bank REFLECTOIN & FORWARD THINKING IMPORTANT CLUB INFORMATION by Pat Bielke, Club Treasurer FGC Conservation . Recreation . Education CHANGE OF MEMBERSHIP YEAR Both refection and forward thinking are abundant right now, during The Club fscal year runs from July 1 to July 1. However, these days when we have more intimate time with our families. membership activity normally begins with our frst spring meeting This newsletter is a chance for FGC to refect on all of the wonderful and many members have been paying their dues in May and work we have done and our social outings we have had with the June. Due to the pandemic, dues are waived for the remainder members and friends out in our beautiful northwoods! of 2020. In order to simplify membership recordkeeping the While our projects, activities and outings have changed over the 72 Board has decided that the membership year will be the same as years our club has operated, we remain grounded in serving and the calendar year, running from January 1 to January 1. enjoying our neighborhood, the beautiful northwoods outdoors & its people! You do remember we are the oldest club of its type in the State of Wisconsin, starting in April 1948! WE, AS FGC, ARE RUN BY US!!! We need a VOLUNTEER REVIVAL! This issue of the FGC newsletter will go into detail about our FGC has always been run by our member volunteers. We have conservation, recreation and educational activities some which a rich history of civic projects that have helped the communities continued and others that we are missing this year. in the border area. We have had unique outdoor outings and behind-the-scene tours of special places, provided because of What we do as a club is actually, well - A LOT! our reputation as a club made of people who always help change the world. CONSERVATION & EDUCATION In recent years, however, not enough members have not been Spring Tree Give-Away volunteering. With the recent arrival of many newly retired and Agonikak bike trail spring maintenance soon to retire couples who have moved to the northwoods, we Campsite Surveys hope you can come forward to fll in our needs and certainly bring North Country Trail maintenance, 2 segments back our social outings. Hwy B and Hwy 2 clean-up Teacher Education grants and student scholarships Please contact Pat Bielke to volunteer for any of these needs. Education Fund to support grants and scholarships No one need is an overwhelming time committment. Partipation in National Public Lands Day Monthly Educational Speakers (May-Oct.) Pat Bielke, 262-424-4046, [email protected] LOL Ski Trail maintenance

OUTINGS & SOCIAL GATHERINGS VOLUNTEER NEEDS !!! Member lead winter skiing/snow shoeing Plan One Summer Evening Program Valentines Dinner & Annual Photo Contest Plan One Winter or Summer Outdoor Activity Member lead paddle trips Chair the Outdoor Activity Committee Member lead hikes & tours Coordinator for the Hwy 2 Adopt-A-Hiway Christmas Dinner Dance Webmaster SPRING TREE GIVE-AWAY Arranged Annually by Jeo loMastro The club teamed up for 6 years with the US Forest Service WITHOUT A WEBMASTER, WE Toumey Nursery to give away trees saplings at the Memorial Day CANNOT CONTINUE OUR WEBSITE Weekend Land O’ Lakes Summer Launch. To date, the nursery Webmaster job description provided a total of over 15,000 black spruce, white spruce, northern red oak, red pine and other tree varieties. Our sincere Maintenance of the website. Keeping information on the site thanks goes out to the management and team at the nursery for the up-to-date, inputting new events and club information, setting up beautiful tree saplings. Many thanks to Joe Lomastro for coordinating the membership year and renewal notices for members, problem the event and to Steve Wilkinson, Chuck Agney and others who helped solving any issues or problems with Wild Apricot or alternative Joe distribute them at the event. web service. It will not involve initial web design or the inputting member information, since that has already been done. One year Joe said this about the day, “It was a beautiful day, the trailer was setup under a big pine tree and the reception by the Anyone interested in considering this, please contact Pat Bielke, community was extraordinary. Given the severe weather this [email protected] or 226-424-4046 for more information. spring and the spruce bud worm issues, interest in replanting was very high.” 4 Please thank Headwaters State Bank Here is a picture taken on Thousand Island Lake Rd on Sept 26, 2020. Dave Gunderson Some Klemann relatives catching ‘The Big One.”

Wolf track I saw on Showshoe Lane July 15, 2020. For size, the remote is 2.75 inches long. Jill Edwards

Mother-Daughter backpack this August. Muir Pass in the High Sierra in California. VIDEO OF TRIP, North Lake to South Lake. This one did not get away. Eugene Clark https://youtu.be/Tm_9Zt2huVc Cheryl Pytlarz

5 Please thank Headwaters State Bank AGONIKAK BIKE/HIKE TRAIL WI Border to Watersmeet by Jim Thomas

We did not have our normal Spring Work Party this year. I missed getting together with people I don’t see all winter. I also like the pizza and beer and guessing who will come in last.

This year Susie Messner Whipp, Tom Wheeler, Mary and I did the best we could to clean-up the trail after Bob Turnquist removed the bigger downed trees. FALL & SPRING HIKING TRAIL. The Agonikak Trail is a great walking trail for early spring and fall, particularly starting from the Wayside. It is well drained and the forests are pretty.

EROSION REPAIRS. Over the last couple of years the heavy Nothing better than Beer & Pizza after a Work Party! rains washed out several hills and the trail needed some repairs. Bob Beedie volunteered to take on the project. He had to fnd a contractor that was willing to do the work, get cost estimates and approval for the work from the Forest Service. Bob did a great job scheduling and supervising the work and the trail looked as good Hwy 2 &Country Road B TRASH PICK-UP as ever. Unfortunately, more heavy rainstorms have washed out by Lynn Klemann a couple areas and Bob has again agreed to reparir the trail. We FGC has cleaned up trash in the spring and fall on two 2 mile are trying some different things to prevent the erosion on the steep segments of roads for a couple of decades: Highway 2 out of hills and we are making progress. Watersmeet in and County Road B going east from A NEW TRAIL TO LEGACY FOREST!! Just a note of interest. County Road S west of Land O Lakes. Each road has a FGC We are working on a trail section that would connect Crystal Lake volunteer coordinator run the clean up. The coordinator rounds up Road (at the Chamber Building) to the Legacy Forest that runs volunteers, provides trash bags, a grabber and supervises the work from South Crystal Lake Road to Highway E. It has many logging outing. It takes 1.5-2 hours each fall and spring. roads that you can hike or ride off-road bicycles (no motorized vehicles). The trail will be natural ground as much as possible. URGENT: HWY 2 COORDINATOR It will cross the Wisconsin River in the National Forest which has NEEDED !!! additional opportunities to enjoy the northwoods. We are currently working on getting approvals from landowners and the U.S. Forest Lynn says, “We have not tried to get people together for any Service. organized trash pickup along Highways S and B this Spring and Fall. Fortunately for us, there was a group of women who walked HISTORY. We have been maintaining the Agonikak Trail for 7 years almost daily on different sections of these roads this past Spring. now. Back in 2008 we identifed the restoration of the Agonikak They picked up and bagged trash as they walked, so the cleanup National Recreation Trail as a possible public service project for was accomplished in the Spring. Steve and Lynn are planning to do the Fish and Game Club. Once it became part of the trail system the trash pickup this Fall. We are responsible for the northernmost being developed by Wilderness Lakes Trails in cooperation with the mile of Highway S and Highway B from Black Oak Lake Beach to Town of Watersmeet and the U.S Forest Service, our involvement Forest Lake Country Store. If, however, anyone would like to do became critical. Watersmeet agreed to be a grant sponsor, but any sections of these roads this Fall, it would be most welcome. We was not in a position to provide maintenance. The USFS agreed can get you a trash bag, vest, and grabbers to use – let us know that they would be willing to enter into a maintenance agreement by calling 715-547-1177 or emailing [email protected].“ with WLT and the F&G Club similar to what we currently do with the hiking and ski trails. In May 2010, the F&G Club approved a three way agreement with the USFS and WLT. We agreed to provide volunteers with the USFS and WLT providing equipment and fnancial support to maintain the trail. I am looking forward to our 2021 Work Party! Get out and enjoy the Agonikak Trail!

6 Please thank Headwaters State Bank “Softies” friends of mine at the fnish of hiking the entire North Country Trail across the UP from Mackinac Bridge to Wis. border! I hiked with them these last miles From Little Girl’s Point to the border. Then we celebrated! Chris Tews

Does it get any better? Calm water, gorgeous sunset and paddling with your bud is the perfect way to spend your time on the Cisco Chain. Holly McCormack

Claire Lake, July 9, 2020. Incredible colors that could stay long enough! Paula Hillmann

Oct. 6 bike ride on Three Eagle Bike Trail. Cheryl Adams Visitor to my yard this summer. Chris Tews

7 Please thank Headwaters State Bank SYLVANIA WILDERNESS CAMPSITE NORTH COUNTRY TRAIL MAINTENANCE SURVEYS by Cheryl Pytlarz by Pat Bielke I am not sure when FGC started surveying the backcountry FCG on behalf of Steve & Rita Kickert and Steve & Pat Bielke have campsites each spring in Sylvania Wilderness. I do know that taken on two sections of the North Country Trail (NCT) for a total of I have coordinated that effort since 2013 and I took it over from 4 miles for which we are responsible to maintain on a regular basis. Rod Sharka who likely ran this program for many years prior. “The North Country National Scenic Trail, generally known as the FGC has a long standing relationship with the Ottawa National North Country Trail or simply the N.C.T., is a footpath stretching over Forest where we have done project after project in coordination 4,600 miles from Middlebury in central Vermont to Lake Sakakawea the Ottawa. The Forest Service says this pre-season survey is State Park in central North Dakota. It connects the Long Trail a great tool for summer intern assignments. It helps them to be (and Appalachian Trail) with the Lewis and Clark Trail. Passing ahead of the busy camper season. It’s also a fun way for us to through the eight states of Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, get into the wilderness before the campers. Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota, it is the longest of the eleven National Scenic Trails authorized by Congress. Thus The hardy volunteer can do campsite checks in the Sylvania far 3,129 miles of the trail is in place. Wilderness from May 10 (guess) - June 15, 2018. Volunteer teams of 2 - 4 people (The Buddy System rules!) will hike or The NCT is administered by the National Park Service, managed by paddle to Sylvania campsites, survey their condition, clean out federal, state, and local agencies, and built and maintained primarily the fre rings and take those 1000 word photos of problems for by the volunteers of the North Country Trail Association (NCTA) the Forest Service. and its partners. The 28 chapters of the NCTA, its 3,200+ members and each affliate organization have assumed responsibility for trail We certainly hope we will be back on this project in the Spring of construction and maintenance of a specifc section of the NCT.” 2021. Wikipedia Pat says, “ With the Pandemic this year, we did not have our usual work groups to maintain our 4 miles of the North Country Trail. However, trails still needed attention! 4 club members: Pat and Steve Bielke and Rita and Steve Kickert, made several trips to maintain segments 20 and 21 of the trail. In addition, Steve and Pat Bielke helped out on a segment which has not been adopted, #24, sawing fallen logs and rebuilding a bridge. There are several segments of the North Country Trail in the Peter Wolfe chapter that have not been adopted and need trail maintenance. If you are interested, contact Connie Julien at [email protected]. Question? Feel free to contact Steve Kickert or Steve Bielke at [email protected].”

Conserve School students surveyed about 7-10 campsites each year

Steve Bielke replacing a NCT foot bridge this summer

Before & After Clean up around fre ring

8 Please thank Headwaters State Bank EDUCATION FUND for TEACHERS & STUDENTS by Jim Thomas & Pat Bielke Balance as of 9/28/20 was $30,047.73. If you would like information about this fund, call Jim Thomas at 715-547-3556. This fund is invested separately from other club funds and is dedicated to providing education grants to teachers and scholarships to local students planning to study in an environmental feld. Contributions to the fund have been declining. In 2017-2018 donations totaled $4,465. In 2018-2019 donations totaled $1,695. This year donations were undoubtedly impacted by the pandemic and resulting lack of club activity and totaled $215. Please seriously consider donating to this fund Brush wacking Team on NCT. so that we can continue these grants and scholarships. Donations can be made on the club website or by mailing a check to the Land O Lakes fsh and Game Club, Education Fund, PO Box 516, Land O Lakes, WI 54540-0516 For the 2019-2020 school year, grants totaling $2,993.19 were paid to teachers in the Northland Pines school district. Unfortunately, due to school closures in the spring, some of the grant activities were not completed. $2,000 was paid out in scholarships to 2 students: Sara McCormack and Noah Miller. The balance in the education fund as of August 31, 2020 was $28,687. Thank you Jim Thomas for managing this

WE ARE ACTIVELY SEEKING DONATIONS FOR

OUR EDUCATION FUND.

Late Spring NCT Uniform. Photo of Paula Hillmann

NEW BOARD MEMBER by Pat Bielke Steve Wilkinson and Stefan Anderson both retired from the Board in July, leaving 2 vacancies. Kathy Tuttle Students of teacher Ms. Liddell showing off has generously volunteered to join the Board. She was their class project involving “Renewable” Energy. interviewed by the Board at our October 16 meeting and unanimously approved for an emergency appointment pending approval by the full membership in July 2021. Kathy will replace Steve Wilkinson as Secretary. Welcome Kathy!.

Renew Your 2021 Please Membership Today! Previous Outing, we need more!! Registration form on page 15 A ride up Copper Peak Ski Jump. OR go to www.fshandgameclub.org

9 Please thank Headwaters State Bank TREASURER’S REPORT by Pat Bielke The club’s fscal year ended June 30. The operating revenue for the 2019-2020 fscal year was $3,476, $3,000 of which was a one- time donation from the Conserve School. Operating expenses were $1,285, leaving a surplus this year of $2,191. This surplus was only possible due to the Conserve School donation, since very little was collected in membership dues. There was an additional $1,128 in donations for the ski trail, $1,450 in forest service reimbursement, and $1,677 in expenses, resulting in a surplus of $2,918 to be added to the ski trail fund. This will help us when the forest service is no longer able to provide reimbursements. The Board approved a budget of $3,552 to be spent during the 2020-2021 fscal year that began July 1, 2020. The majority of the club’s operating expenses will be for general membership meetings, administrative expenses including $549 in insurance, Sunset on Lake Superior - Herbster WI. Cheryl Adams website expense, membership in 4 organizations, and ski trail

FGC WEBSITE by Pat Bielke In January, 2019, Conserve School donated the 2 year cost of a website service, and Stefan Anderson set up a website for the club using Wild Apricot. Wild Apricot is a user-friendly service that allows the club to keep members updated on activities, download the newsletter, receive private emails, and pay dues. It keeps track of members, allows members to put their dues payments on auto pay, sends out reminders when dues haven’t been paid, allows new members to input their own information, etc However, with the closure of the Conserve School, the club will need to make a decision about continuing with this web service, fnding a less expensive service, or dropping the website entirely. If the club is to continue with the website or uses a different website, it will need someone who can be a Visiting the Pictured Rocks National Park is always a breathtaking web master or administrator of the website. sight, even on a rainy day. Holly McCormack Wild Apricot is a very easy website to use and has already been designed set up and AMAZON SMILE FGC SUPPORT members inputted. The board has decided If you use Amazon’s services, here is an opportunity for you to provide help out to pay Wild Apricot on a monthly basis ($50/ FGC. The support is from the AmazonSmile Foundation. This Foundation created a month) until the full membership can meet to program whereby Amazon donates 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products make a decision. to charitable organizations selected by their customers. An account for the Club www.fshandgameclub.org has been created so that donations can be received from this program. For more information on AmazonSmile, refer to”Frequently Asked Questions” on http://org. amazon.com. To help FGC, go to http://smile.amazon.com/ch/39-1604410. (The number in the link is the Club’s EIN.) We are looking for a new jokester to send the newsletter editor some good Thank-you ahead for participating in this program. hearted humor for 3 newsletters a year. Contact [email protected] Humorous Corner 10 Please thank Headwaters State Bank SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS Teacher Educational Grants by Gary Ebert by Kathleen Kuchevar The Land O’ Lakes Fish and Game Club has been giving From 1993 to 2019 the Club has generously supported environmental scholarships to graduating high school seniors educational endeavors to the amount of $52,747.85. since 2006. These scholarships are intended to provide fnancial The Land O’ Lakes Fish & game Club has made monetary grants help and encouragement to high school graduates whose career available to teachers in the school districts of Northland Pines, paths will, directly or indirectly, have a positive impact on the Phelps and Watersmeet since 1993. An educational endowment environment. Initially, the club gave scholarships for one or more fund was established for permanent grants with a $10,000 initial years, depending on merit and availability of funds. Often several fund drive to assure the continuance of the program. These small scholarships were given in a single year. In 2016 a new grants enable teachers to enhance student awareness of the application form was developed, emphasizing a demonstrated appreciation and conservation of the northwoods environment, interest in protecting and preserving the environment rather than natural resources and wildlife. choosing a major closely related to environmental issues. The hope was that this would increase the applicant pool and still accomplish Category I funds are applied to requests up to $500.00 our goal of supporting college students who will have a positive that support projects outside of the normal school budget. impact on the environment. At the same time we decided to award Category II projects to $1,000 may impact the whole school or one $4000 scholarship per year, assuming there was a qualifed community. The teachers relay their project invoices to be paid applicant, rather than two or three smaller scholarships. These by the treasurer rather than receiving money directly. Dozens $4000 scholarships were to be paid out in four equal installments of projects that vary broadly in scope have been funded by the of $1000 each at the beginning of each academic year, provided Club over the 17 years. the applicant remained in good academic standing and continued to be enrolled as a full-time student. We felt this was a good way to Just a few of the interesting projects: use the money in our Scholarship Fund that would have a greater - Northland Pine’s Farm to School Program producing fresh local impact on the students we wanted to support. food working with gardening from seed to seed. - Wind Power Exploration – designing PVC wind turbines. These $4000 scholarships were awarded in 2016 (Kali Boldebuck), - Winterizing a school greenhouse for plant growth. 2017 (Sara McCormack), and 2019 (Noah Miller). Thus in the Fall - Food Waste Trash to Treasure for composting in the school of 2020 we sent the fnal $1000 installment to Sara McCormack and garden. the second installment to Noah Miller. All three of these students - Providing picnic/project tables for the Watersmeet School have had excellent university careers and have sustained their Forest interest in environmental issues. In 2018 and 2020 the Scholarship made by LVD. Committee felt that we did not have a suitable candidate for this - Provided for a shared portable STARLAB Planetarium award. If we could fnd a suitable candidate each year, then in the - Give Bees a Chance – tending a working beehive and collecting long run the club would be distributing $4000 in scholarship money honey. each year, $1000 to each of four different students. Hopefully, this long run equilibrium will soon be achieved. Many feld trips to Trees For Tomorrow, day and overnight with nature and wildlife programs to help meet state curriculum In addition to the Fish and Game Club Environmental Scholarships, standards. Many visits to a wildlife rehab center in Minocqua the club has administered the $500 John (Jack) LaChance Sr. to create an awareness of resources and support available. Environmental Scholarship since 2012. The funding source for Educators always consider their students, classroom this scholarship is the LaChance family, but the Fish and Game environment, creativity and extended possibilities in their Club reviews the applicants and makes the decision on who will applications. Many projects educationally went beyond the receive the award each year. However, at this time it is not clear school doors. if the LaChance family wants to continue this program. No such award was given in 2020. EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION – LAND O’ LAKES SOAR MIDDLE SCHOOL Jeffrey Libby: I wanted to thank you for the SOAR Middle School 2017 Scholarship Award garden project. It is a very important and impact offering from Winners, Sara McCormic, your organization to bring funding back into the community. left ($4000 Land O’ Lakes Young people deserve as many opportunities as possible and Fish and Game Club your group helps make this real. We have been lucky enough Senior Environmental to receive funding in the past and look forward to improve our Scholarship) and Hunter school and student experience. Your efforts are well appreciated Kaehler, right ($500 by the community and the staff and students at SOAR Middle John [Jack] LaChance School.

11 Please thank Headwaters State Bank FGC SUMMER EVENING PROGRAMS WE MISSED IN 2020 by Carol Mason Sherrill

As I look at my notes, the last meeting of the Program Committee Anne Small - Northstate Mycological Club – www. was January 31, 2020, just before covid19 disrupted our lives and northstatemycologicalclub – a presentation on fungi of the sent us into seclusion in our homes. Hopeful as we all were that Northwoods. The club meets in late summer and fall to go this disease would be overcome and short-lived, we continued on forays in the woods gathering mushroom. The mission planning with the wonderful individuals we had been lining up for of the club is to promote an understanding and enjoyment of the summer program. As the days passed, we all soon realized Northwoods’ mushrooms through feld experience, shared that we would be unable to go forward with meetings or have any personal and cultural knowledge, and continued study. Visit the programs for Fish and Game Club members due to social distancing website for more information on the club, books, and recipes!! and quarantine. However, not to be daunted, we still read books, watched documentaries, texted, emailed and snail-mailed, and Adrienne Jaeger – Adrienne presented to the F & G Club hiked our forests and paddled our beautiful lakes and streams, previously on her experiences as a National Parks Ranger at waiting for the pandemic to end. As we head into an all-too-early Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota. She fall, albeit stunningly beautiful, I would like to share the programs was so fascinating and enjoyable, we wanted to bring her back we had planned and also give members opportunities to read again. With her vast experience and background as a published books or articles or visit websites and enjoy armchair experiences writer and photographer, outdoor instructor, and Wilderness of these amazing presenters. Perhaps next year, we will be able First Responder, she has a great repertoire of experiences and to come together for meetings and enjoy these programs together. knowledge – we look forward to Adrienne presenting – 2021???

Paul Bannick - www.paulbannick.com or upcoming events at Dennis Downes - Dennis is the founder of the Great Lakes http://paulbannick.com/events/ Trail Marker Tree Society and has documented the history of Paul Bannick is an award-winning author and wildlife photographer the Native American Trail Marker Trees over decades of travels specializing in the natural history of North America with a focus throughout North America. He is an artist as well as an author on birds and habitat. Coupling his love of the outdoors with his – Native American Trail Marker Trees – with paintings and skill as a photographer, he creates images that foster the intimacy sculptures on permanent display at museums, public libraires, between viewer and subject, inspiring education and conservation. historical societies, and national landmarks, as well as private Paul is both the author and photographer of two best-selling bird collections across the country. Learn more about Dennis at books, Owl: A Year in the Lives of North American Owls and The www.DownesStudio.net Owl and The Woodpecker, Encounters with North America’s Most Iconic Birds. Darby Nelson – Professor Emeritus at Anoka-Ramsey Community College and aquatic ecologist, served three terms Robert and Kate Houle - “A Cut Above” – a documentary about as a Minnesota state legislator, and is the former board president the competitive sport of lumberjacking, its history, its people, its of Conservation Minnesota. Darby wrote two absolutely growing diversity, and how logging has uniequely defned the wonderful books - For Love of Lakes and For Love of a River. Midwest for over the past century. Anyone who loves paddling and water will learn and enjoy these insightful books on the condition of our lakes and streams in the Adventure Mines – www.adventureminetours.com – Greenland, U.S. A delightful journey “paddling” with Darby and his wife, MI, a company providing tours and history of the mining industry Geri. Visit his website where you can view a video of “For Love in the Upper Peninsula…a perfect time capsule of mining life up of a River”. www.darbynelson.com to 100 years ago. The Adventure Mine is a retired copper mine with walk-through tours describing history, details of process, and Other presenters we were looking at were Cliff Jacobson- effects on miners. They also are on Facebook and Youtube. canoeist, author, outdoorsman – www.cliffcanoe.com –“Cliff is one of North America’s most respected outdoors writers and wilderness paddlers – a retired environmental science teacher, an outdoors skills instructor, a canoeing and camping consultant, URGENT: We need Program and author of more than a dozen top-selling books. Committee Members Other ideas -Weasels/nature songs, Roger Powell; Apostle Contact: Islands; UP State Parks, Isle Royal – wolf introduction; mosquitoes…and more. If you have any suggestions please [email protected] forward to [email protected].

12 Please thank Headwaters State Bank LOL SKIING & FALL HIKING TRAIL OUTINGS STORIES - We need them back!! by Bob Turnquist For many years FGC has been responsible for building, maintaining and grooming the LOL Ski/Hiking Trail located just over the border URGENT: We need People to in MI on East Duck Lake Rd. The trail is on Ottawa National Forest organize an outing. We only ask Land so the trail effort is in cooperation with NFS. Thanks goes to Bob Turnquist in particular for his long term dedication and passion that you do ONE (1) Program. to have this trail open to the public all year. Many others have Contact: offered helping hands as well. [email protected] Bob says, “With fall colors it is a great time to take a hike on the Fish and Game Ski Trail. Downed trees have been cleared and we hope to mow the trails soon. The color on the West Side trail is behind what was seen on local highways the last weekend of September (see photos). I would expect the trees along the trail to be in full color around the frst weekend in October. While you will not see as much color on the East Side trails you will see that there Bike Trips has been a widening of the forest roads that we use for skiing. There is a timber sale for the area where the east side trails are located so the roads have been widened for logging trucks. It is currently unknown when logging is to occur. The contracts are let for a number of years and logging can occur at any time of year. When logging is active the East Side trails will be closed. We will keep you posted when more information is available. The logging will not impact the West Side trails. As you are hiking it would be great if you could help pick up downed branches. It is hard to believe that pending adequate snow we can be skiing in a couple of months. We can open the trails on December 1.

Enjoy the fall!”

WE always welcome DONATIONS FOR MAINTAINING OUR SKI/HIKING TRAIL. Forest Service regulations prohibit collecting donations on Forest Pontoon rides on the Cisco Chain Service land. The ski trail resides entirely in the Ottawa National Forest so there will no longer be a donation box at the ski trail parking lot. We encourage skiers and other trail users to send a check to the Fish & Game Club, PO Box 516, Land O Lakes, WI 54540 . Please indicate the check is for the ski trail. Your donation is tax deductible and if it is $25 or greater we can mail you a receipt. Just indicate you would like a receipt and be sure to include your mailing address.

Getting ready to ski the LOL Ski/Hiking Trail. Potluck at the Agate Hunting on Lake Superior Piel’s followed. 13 Please thank Headwaters State Bank Humorous Corner We are looking for a new jokester to send the newsletter editor some good hearted humor for 3 newsletters a year. Contact [email protected]

CLUB FACEBOOK PAGE www.facebook.com/LOLFGC Previous Outing, we need more!! Skiing and snow shoeing and a a Potluck at the Pauly’s.

DON’T FORGET THE CLUB’S EMAIL ADDRESS!!! [email protected] We send out periodic e-mail reminders about meetings, activities and outings that are going on within the Club. If you would like to be added to the distribution list, send your request to Pat Bielke at [email protected]

CLUB BOARD MEMBERS Offcers and Directors for the Fish and Game Club 2020-21 year listed here. President Sudy Wattson 906-544-2461 Vice-President Mike Brennand 906-544-2366 Secretary Kathy Tuttle 906-358-0221 Treasurer Pat Bielke 262-424-4046 Directors Greg Clark 513-310-6839 David Sherrill 906-358-0016 Renew Your 2021 Please Membership Today! Registration form on page 15 OR go to www.fshandgameclub.org

14 Please thank Headwaters State Bank 15 Please thank Headwaters State Bank