ROGER WILTZ

ROGER WILTZ: What would it take to write a western?

In my estimation, the last good movie I saw was Open Range.

By Roger Wiltz , January 12, 2011

ROGER WILTZ: Thoughts about Patriots, a survival book

I just finished a book that made me think about my survival skills or lack of them. Want to shake the winter doldrums and get your blood flowing? Get the boat out! We are heading into a time of year when open-water walleye fishing picks up. Much of it is done beneath the big dams at Fort Thompson and Pickstown, but don’t sell short the open water further down stream.

By Roger Wiltz , December 22, 2010

WILTZ: Thoughts on energy, environment

I am going to say some things that are controversial. I care about the environment, I believe that compromise is necessary, and I’m tired of partisan politics. It appears to me that if South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota or Wyoming were back east, those wind turbines wouldn’t be there because some self-appointed important people don’t want to look at them.

By Roger Wiltz , December 14, 2010

Uninvited guests crash hawk buffet

Three of us hunted pheasants one afternoon.

By Roger Wiltz , December 08, 2010

Wiltz: A potpourri of pheasant thoughts

On the afternoon of Nov. 14, Dave and his dog Kate, Don and I went pheasant hunting. Mild temperature, little wind, great dog work and tight-holding birds made for an enjoyable, easy limit.

By Roger Wiltz , November 30, 2010

Wiltz: Receiving vibes from spirit world?

I don’t know that I believe in sensing the presence of spirits or the dead, but I do believe that a reverence can consume our emotions when we dare to tread on hallowed ground. I felt it above the deck of the Missouri at Pearl Harbor, I sensed it in the London Tower where Thomas More lost his head and it affected my breathing last month when I walked the Sunken Road at Antietam.

By Roger Wiltz , November 23, 2010

ROGER WILTZ: In my limited hunting circle, who’s the best?

A while back an outdoor television program featured a friendly deer hunt competition.

By Roger Wiltz , November 16, 2010

ROGER WILTZ: No game in bag, but still a great hunt

Have you ever gone off by yourself — like giving yourself a chance to reflect, think things out? Last Thursday morning, I climbed into my pickup and headed west. In the back were clothes for three days, simple breakfast and sandwich fixings, a crossbow, shotgun, varmint rifle, sleeping bag and pillow.

November 10, 2010

Opinion: Preserve hunts can have many outcomes

Later this month friends and I are going on an Idaho elk hunt. We will hunt with Rulon Jones, the former Denver Broncos defensive end. Rulon owns property in both Idaho and Utah. Check his website at utahelkhunt.com. We can hunt 70,000 acres of unfenced land , or 10,000 acres of fenced land – what Rulon calls “the largest hunting preserve in the world.” These horseback hunts are guided one-on-one, and we may choose either a spike camp with tents or the comfort of a lodge.

By Roger Wiltz , August 04, 2010

Opinion: Daley opposes our Second Amendment

Political corruption is synonymous with Illinois. While I was a kid living my high school years in Chicago during the 1950s, Mayor Richard J. Daley’s political machine dictated every Illinois politician’s next move. It included the neighborhood alderman as well as a string of governors who spent time behind bars. Today, we have another arrogant ex-governor who will hopefully spend time behind bars.

By Roger Wiltz , July 28, 2010

Opinion: Fishing for big pike can be rewarding

A continuation of last week’s column, today I’ll conclude the recent road trip to Pickle Lake, Ontario, Canada, and the subsequent fly-in to Kwinigans Lake by eight Wagner-area anglers. After my last Kwinigans adventure, I told myself that if I ever return, I would put down my walleye rig, as much fun as it is, and make a concerted effort to take some of the lake’s large northern pike. That is exactly what I did, even though many of the big pike that have been caught in the past came on small jigs by walleye anglers.

By Roger Wiltz , July 21, 2010

Opinion: The ‘Magnificent Eight’ head to Canada

We were munching fresh, pan-fried walleye during a shore lunch when someone yelled, “Moose!” A cow and calf were frolicking in the water off an island a quarter-mile southeast of us. Some of the guys jumped into a boat and sped toward the duo for pictures. One of our boats had earlier observed woodland caribou. A boreal paradise surrounded us.

By Roger Wiltz , July 14, 2010

Opinion: My closer-to-home ‘bucket list’

One of my favorite old T-shirts has a picture of a venerable Bass-o-reno on the back. Across the front it says, So Many Lures — So Little Time. These words seem profound. The “bucket list” concept, or things to do before it’s too late, isn’t new to this column. I’ve talked about it before, and I occasionally think about running out of time before I get to try these things. Some are within two days’ drive, and I want to talk about them today along with a few that are practically on our doorstep! International Falls and the Rainy River are an easy day’s drive. In April, large sturgeon are spawning in the river, and they love night crawlers.

By Roger Wiltz , July 07, 2010

Letters to the Editor

Start enforcing the immigration laws To the Editor: I see where New York Mayor Bloomberg and a coalition of others want to give all illegal immigrants a path to citizenship. They think that is going to help our economy. We might as well open the gates and let the rest of the world in and lower our standard of living in line with the rest of the depressed world.

July 03, 2010

Opinion: Flooding’s effect on the fish

My fishing boat, though Spartan in nature, has a live well under the center seat. There are no pumps or batteries. When I want to keep a fish, I lift the lid on the center seat, pull the plug in the bottom of the chamber, and watch it fill with water to the same level as the waterline outside the boat. The water constantly circulates. At the end of the outing, the live well drains when I crank the boat onto the trailer. I remove the fish and replace the plug. It is pure simplicity that does nothing but work!

By Roger Wiltz , June 30, 2010