ROGER WILTZ

Opinion: Be wary of having your name on lists

It’s no secret that the best ice fishing is early and late. As we approach the late, keep in mind that much of the ice has been snow-covered. Snow insulates ice and makes for dangerous areas. Sand or dust on ice can absorb heat. We have had thawing and freezing which makes for honeycomb or weak ice.

By Roger Wiltz , February 17, 2010

Opinion: Hunting traditions from days gone by

I’m currently reading “The Best of Nash Buckingham” edited and annotated by George Bird Evans. Buckingham, born in 1880, lived to the ripe age of 91, and hunted just about to the end. A southern gentleman from a family of moderate wealth, he spent a lifetime hunting quail and waterfowl at private clubs, judging field trial (dogs) championships and writing. If he had a trademark, it was his ability to record the southern African-American dialect on paper as illustrated in his most famous short story “De Shootnest Gent’man.”

By Roger Wiltz , February 10, 2010

Opinion: Our waters aren’t as clean as I thought they were

Regular readers know that I am very biased when it comes to South Dakota, and it becomes evident in a hurry that I believe South Dakota is the place to live if hunting and fishing are important. Relatives along the Illinois River have great walleye fishing, but they can’t eat the fish. Mercury levels are too high. Lake Michigan has salmon and trout, but one has to be very careful about how much is eaten. With our seemingly pristine lakes and rivers, I have never concerned myself with such problems. Perhaps I should.

By Roger Wiltz , January 06, 2010

Opinion: Some concerns for the new year

As we head into the new year, three major problems that affect our recreational outdoors are causing me great concern. The first is the damage being done to our western forests by Mountain pine beetles. They are killing our trees a million acres at a time. While these beetles have been around for a long time, they were previously kept in check by winter temperatures 25 degrees Fahrenheit or colder. Now, increasingly warmer temperatures — combined with drought — are taking a horrendous toll. British Columbia has already lost 35 million acres! Closer to home, our Black Hills are turning brown. This inevitably will lead to catastrophic fires.

By Roger Wiltz , December 30, 2009

Opinion: Newfoundland, 10 years later

When I sit back and look at a set of antlers, it brings back the time, location, situation, weather, who I was hunting with, the rifle, the shot, the whole deal. I hope I’ll possess that ability to recall until my dying day as it will bring fond memories when I can no longer do those things. A set of moose antlers hangs on the rec room wall. It was 10 years ago that Doug Koupal and I went on our Newfoundland moose hunt, making this an anniversary of sorts. I see it as the high point of my hunting career. The hunt was demanding as we climbed mountains, straddled deadfalls, forded streams and trekked through deep snow from dark until dark for five days. Outfitters often rank the physical requirements of a hunt on a one to five scale. Our hunt was a four with five reserved for the most perilous and demanding of hunts.

By Roger Wiltz , December 09, 2009

Opinion: Archery and rifle deer hunting are really a world apart

How does a smart archery hunter put an incredibly successful hunt together? For Dave “Orv” Tolliver, it began last summer with the placement of his tree stand north of town. He patiently observed deer movement, deployed a trail camera and checked signs in order to set his stand in the right place.

By Roger Wiltz , December 02, 2009

Opinion: High-fence hunting isn’t all bad

On the afternoon of Saturday, Oct. 31, Bob, Curt, Dave and I had just come out of a CRP field. We had bagged a few pheasants and were getting ready to climb into the pickup when five hunters pulled up in an SUV bearing an out-of-state license plate. They wanted to know how we were doing. Their collective demeanor told us that they weren’t doing so well. I felt badly about it. I would like to have said, “Follow me,” but we had already walked through the places we had to hunt.

By Roger Wiltz , November 11, 2009

Opinion: Advertising has become the focal point of too many outdoor articles

Why we buy the things we do — fishing tackle, hunting equipment, camping gear, clothing — is a fascinating subject. Is it something we do impulsively once we’re in the store, or did advertising persuade us? It might be word of mouth or the advice of a friend.

By Roger Wiltz , October 21, 2009

Opinion: Tips for pheasant hunters

Our regular South Dakota pheasant season opens Saturday. With more than 50 years of ringneck hunting and 1,000-plus roosters behind me, I definitely have some thoughts on the subject. I’ll put my most important notion first. When you flush a raucous rooster from under your feet, it’s totally unnerving. Take a second, regain your composure and check the background before you squeeze that trigger. I always say a little prayer before I step into that first field. Nothing could be worse than accidently shooting a companion. May I never forget it’s possible so long as I have a gun in my hands.

By Roger Wiltz , October 14, 2009

Opinion: Never has there been a better time to load your own ammunition

Since I last encouraged readers to consider reloading their own ammunition, some seemingly unexplainable things have happened in the components market. The cost of brass, primers and bullets has doubled and even tripled! If today’s column does nothing else to your thinking, at least save your empty brass for your friends who reload. It’s valuable.

By Roger Wiltz , October 07, 2009

Opinion: Extra effort can give hunting or fishing pictures a professional touch

A picture is worth a thousand words. We’ve all heard that. As I’ve worked the last 30 years to market my writing, I’ve become convinced of one thing. While my writing is sometimes good enough for an Outdoor Life or Field & Stream, my photography isn’t. Good pictures can and do sell stories. Too many good stories go unsold because the photos of a bludgeoned deer on the tailgate of a pickup or stringers of fish that have been dead too long just aren’t very appealing. It’s time for all of us to clean up our acts. This first began to occur to me during our African hunt in 2002.

By Roger Wiltz , September 30, 2009

I’m a sportsman on the surface, but an educator in my heart

If you are a man (or woman) for all seasons, your time has come. Grouse season opened last Saturday. Archery deer opens next Saturday. After struggling a bit with fishing this summer, I eagerly anticipate the fall bite. Fall turkeys are a hoot! It just keeps getting better, and for all practical purposes, it won’t slow down until Jan. 31, 2010.

By Roger Wiltz , September 23, 2009

Opinion: Catch a musky: mission accomplished

Would each of us catch a musky? That was our simple goal. On Sunday Aug. 30, Jerry Hnetynka of Lake Andes, Greg McCann of Springfield and I headed for Vermilion Bay, Ontario, in Jerry’s Chevy pickup. The trip took 12 and a half hours, and we went by way of Watertown, Fargo, Grand Forks, Winnipeg and Kenora. The lakes of the Indian Chain, thought by some to be the finest musky angling in the world, are the waters we fished. Though we didn’t do particularly well, I feel the lakes have a solid musky population. We learned a lot, and we should do much better next time.

By Roger Wiltz , September 16, 2009

Opinion: Elk teeth in the dumpster

Forever is driving across Montana. The conversation began to deteriorate as all worthwhile topics had already been exploited. Doug and Jerry were my companions. Both of these guys have rather extensive hunting trophy collections, and the talk began to head in that direction. “Let’s face it,” I said. “We’re all getting older. What’s going to happen to this stuff when we’re gone?”

By Roger Wiltz , September 09, 2009

Opinion: South Dakota moving up on Outdoor Life’s report card

My phone rang the other day. It was Ken Haugen of Bridgewater. He had read my defense of crossbows, and was interested in my comment about compound bows once being as controversial as crossbows are today in South Dakota. Ken told me that he was primarily responsible for legalizing compound bows in South Dakota. The year was 1971 or 1972, and Ken was a Canby, Minn., resident at the time. Compound bows were legal for archery hunting in Minnesota but not South Dakota. When he questioned the S.D. Department of Game, Fish and Parks about their compound bow rationale, he was told that compounds were machines with pulley wheels, not bows.

By Roger Wiltz , September 02, 2009