Articles

Make yourself aware of 'The Armed Citizen'

Before I begin today’s column — about guns — I promise that in the future I will not beat this subject to death. It seems that just about everything in the news today is about guns and the Second Amendment.

WILTZ: Is it possible that both the GF&P report and my opinion were correct

Two weeks ago in this column, I stated that the pheasant count for the SD 2012 season, as reported by the media, was not the truth.

WILTZ: Other than the enjoyment derived, have your guns been a good investment?

My sister-in-law, Joyce, gave me a Barnes & Noble gift card for Christmas.

WILTZ: These points are as sensible as anything I've heard in the media

I wish today’s column could be “’Tis the season to be jolly” and Christmas cookies, but the recent Connecticut tragedy has overcome my yuletide spirit.

WILTZ: New experiences mean new friends

In last week’s column, I described our stay at The Lodge at Chama. Today, I’ll discuss the actual hunt.

WILTZ: Roger, did you see anything unusual during you East River deer hunt?

When it comes to what should be a very ordinary hunt, I’ve had the great fortune over the years to stumble over a number of unusual circumstances.

WILTZ: With what we've been through, an EHD discussion would be appropriate

I’m not Dr. Roger, and I don’t have a degree in animal pathology, but over the years, I have kept my eyes open and my ears to the ground with respect to EHD. I have discovered countless victims, and I feel qualified to make some observations.

WILTZ: A deer hunt with my grandkids - it will be awesome if half my expectations are met

I don’t know how important deer hunts are in the world scheme of things, but if I had to choose a personal most significant deer hunt, I’d have to pick the one that’s about 10 days away, for it will include three of my Wisconsin grandchildren.

WILTZ: Please don't wish me a happy 25th anniversary

I have a 25th anniversary coming up in a few weeks for an event that I wish had never happened. I’m not proud of it, but writing about it today may help me stay on the straight and narrow for another 25 years. At the root of all the things I did wrong that day, we find one of the Seven Capital Sins — Anger.

WILTZ: What will I find come Saturday?

Never before have I stepped into a field on the opening day of pheasant season without knowing what we were going to find bird-wise. This year will be different.

Columns

WILTZ: I didn't realize SD waters held so many walleyes!

In late May, I received a letter in personal longhand from Gary Allen, of Allen’s Missouri River Guide Service, in Chamberlain. For many years, I’ve thought about going out on our Missouri River with a professional guide.

• Fishing

WILTZ: Bait buckets require good decisions

I’m going to give you a tiny tip today that might someday make all the difference in a fishing trip. If the color of a lure matters, wouldn’t it follow that the color of live bait, specifically minnows, also makes a difference? Believe me, it does.

WILTZ: Time to put some of our hunting 'correctness' on the shelf

I’ve never hunted in Europe. I’m not saying I ever will, but when I see a story about wild boars or red deer, plus the chance to stay in an old castle and visit ancient cities, I take a hard look. Chances are it might also be a destination Betsy enjoys.

WILTZ: Our reservation system is intolerable

Two weeks ago, I alluded to the perception that our Lake Francis Case walleyes appear to migrate downstream. It seems the quality fishing for the season begins at Crow Creek and moves southward to the Chamberlain area and eventually to Snake Creek, Platte Creek and finally to the North Point area near Pickstown.

WILTZ: Remembering Andy Wayne Klein

I’m quite certain that what I’m about to say is true of institutions and businesses other than schools, but for the moment I’m speaking of schools. My premise is this: The most valuable person in your school system isn’t necessarily the highest paid.

• Andy Wayne Klein

WILTZ: The Randall tailrace- it's what fishing is all about

When we moved to Parkston in 1966, I fished the Platte Creek area hard without giving any thought to the Fort Randall Dam tailrace. The year of 1971 found us moving to Burke, where I switched my Francis Case Reservoir attention to the Snake Creek area.

WILTZ: What can we do to stop the Asian carp?

When my phone rang last February, the man on the other end said we had briefly visited at the Randall boat ramp last summer. His name was Larry Waterbury, an Armour citizen, and he wanted to know if he could stop by the house to discuss a concern. I told him to come on by.

WITLZ: You'll learn something about pronghorn antelope

Not all good stories make the news. With regard to so called “assault rifles,” the people recently spoke loud and clear, and we all need to know what happened.

WILTZ: We’re in the midst of spring turkey season!

Mid-April finds us in the peak of our South Dakota spring turkey season, and the outdoor TV channels have named South Dakota the best place in the nation to hunt turkeys. Fortunately for hunters, many ranchers see their turkeys as vermin, and they actually encourage the hunting of these big birds! With a courteous request, hunting privileges can be had by knocking on doors.

WILTZ: I feel like a kid with a new toy

In my column two weeks ago, I suggested that the growth stimulation drugs used in the livestock industry and the herbicides and insecticides applied in crop production might be causing a negative effect on the water we drink, the air we breathe and the food we eat.