ROGER WILTZ

Opinion: Antlers — worth the price of the hunt?

I don’t really want to tell you about this, for I made a fool of myself the other day, and risked injury to Betsy on top of it. I was going fishing, and I asked Betsy, fresh from hip replacement surgery, to come along. She was hesitant as my little john boat didn’t have a seat with a backrest. Like always, I had a solution. We’ll take a plastic lawn chair with us, and put it in the boat for her.

By Roger Wiltz , June 23, 2010

Opinion: Catfish are where you find them

Catfish are the most under-utilized, unappreciated fish in our South Dakota reservoirs. They get big, they fight with abandon they never quit — and they are good on the table. What more could we ask of a fish? With the catfish spawn close at hand, they are now in shallow water and very vulnerable. Though I’ve caught them in shallow water on sandy or muddy bottoms during the spawn, what happened last Monday was a new experience. Vern and I were fishing from my 14-foot john boat. We were almost against the rip-rap bank on the face of Fort Randall Dam fishing for smallmouth bass and walleyes.

By Roger Wiltz , June 16, 2010

Just how good are you with a shotgun?

The year was 1955. President Eisenhower made the first-ever television press conference, Elvis appeared on television, McDonald’s came into being and the minimum wage went to $1 an hour. I was an eighth-grader, and I received a 10-gauge shotgun for Christmas. But that wasn’t all.

By Roger Wiltz , June 09, 2010

Opinion: Stay informed about wildlife diseases

Imagine crazed mule deer chewing and pulling their own hair out, leaving their hides red with sores. Close examination reveals exotic louse chewing on the skin. The misery ends during the winter when freezing temperatures and pneumonia spell the end for the tormented deer. We are talking about DHLS, or Deer Hair Loss Syndrome.

By Roger Wiltz , June 02, 2010

Opinion: We have heroes among us who care for loved ones all year long

On the afternoon of May 17, fishing partner Jerry and I towed his boat over to White Swan. A more perfect afternoon I haven’t witnessed. Warm but not hot, with modest wrinkles on the surface of a blue expanse that stretched to the hazy green hills of Gregory County. And we had it all to ourselves.

By Roger Wiltz , May 26, 2010

Opinion: Caribou deserve more respect

Between my own subscriptions, and then swapping them with friends for their magazines, I read Sporting Classics, Gray’s Sporting Journal, Eastman’s Hunting Journal, Safari, Sports Afield, Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, American Hunter and Petersen’s Hunting. Occasionally, an article or story will catch my attention. Such was the case with an article by Thomas McIntyre.

By Roger Wiltz , May 19, 2010

Opinion: ‘Made in Japan’ takes on a new meaning with giant largemouth

After watching the news the other night, I found it impossible to concentrate on the walleyes I’d soon pursue with Dave, a hunting trip I’d been planning or the things a retired guy should normally think about. I was upset with those protesting Arizona’s common sense legislation to deal with illegal aliens crossing the border. I thought about John Wooters and the problems a U.S. senior citizen should not have to confront.

By Roger Wiltz , May 12, 2010

Opinion: Outdoorsmen can also be nurses

I don’t know that we appreciate the effort our Game, Fish & Parks Department has made to keep our fishing regulations consistent until we fish somewhere else. For example, Wisconsin limits and size lengths can change from lake to lake — even in lakes connected to each other.

By Roger Wiltz , May 05, 2010

Opinion: From walleyes to wolves

While I enjoyed a Rotary conference at Chamberlain’s Cedar Shores this past weekend, the place buzzed of walleye talk. The Shores was headquarters for a 100-team walleye competition, and flights of boats were released every 15 minutes. Most important, they were catching fish. Pierre is also a hotspot. Long-liners pulling silver and black Rapala Husky Jerks with non-stretch lines like Fireline are nailing salmon on the flats above the Oahe Dam.

By Roger Wiltz , May 01, 2010

Opinion: S.D. outdoors could offer a lucrative career opportunity

Last fall, a patron addressed the Wagner City Council about the number of very large bass that were being taken from Wagner Lake. Though the council wanted to act, perhaps by imposing a size limit, they sought input from Game, Fish & Parks as the lake is managed by it even though it is within Wagner city limits. The GF&P responded that the lake was scheduled for assessment in 2010, and appropriate regulations would follow.

By Roger Wiltz , April 21, 2010

Opinion: Kate the cactus eatin’ dog

March 31 was an awesome day to be outdoors. Actually, we should have gone fishing. In fact, we stopped down by the Randall Creek boat ramp to see how the anglers were doing. A couple of neighborly guys were filleting a nice limit of walleyes. Maybe my life is full of “should ofs,” but we could go fishing anytime. Maybe you didn’t realize that March 31 was the last day of pheasant hunting on South Dakota hunting preserves. Dave, Jerry and I had been invited to trim down the rooster population. We could handle that, although hunter orange vests and shirt sleeves on an unseasonably-warm March afternoon seemed out of place to some Wagnerites.

By Roger Wiltz , April 07, 2010

Opinion: Final flight of the DC-6 N14436

Many people my age or older are intimidated by computers. Unfortunately for some, the Internet and e-mails are not a part of their lives. For others it is a struggle, though they work at it. I fall into this category. I’d give myself a “C” grade in computer skills, although I’m dependent on them as this column is written and sent by computer. I’ve also finally learned to enjoy the incredible world of Google.

By Roger Wiltz , March 24, 2010

Try an SCI auction for a cheap hunt

As we motored southward down I-29 Feb. 18, more and more geese filled the air. Flocks of Canadas and snows became thick as we approached the St. Joseph, Mo., area. We didn’t know it then, but heavy weekend snow would push the geese south again. While we’ll have to wait a bit for our spring goose hunting, the thought of spring geese and walleyes makes March not nearly so boring as some would make us believe.

By Roger Wiltz , March 10, 2010

Opinion: Autolysis is not for everyone

On Sunday, all five boats fishing below the dam at Pickstown limited on walleyes. Put in below town on the east side, and please put the large females back in the river.

By Roger Wiltz , March 03, 2010

Opinion: Be aware: wildlife belongs to S.D., including skulls with antlers

On Page 8 of the Feb. 3 edition of The Avon Clarion, there’s a picture of Bon Homme County conservation officer Todd Crownover handing over a deer skull and antlers to young Drew Koch of Tyndall. According to the accompanying article, Drew wounded the deer during the 2008 rifle season, but never found it in spite of an extensive search that included family and friends.

By Roger Wiltz , February 24, 2010