Woodland Dunes hosts invasive species workshop Jan. 9 workshop gives landowners knowledge to manage invasive species on their land

Bob Schuh | HTR News

A landowner workshop, "Managing the Invasive Species on Your Land," will be held by Lakeshore Invasive Species Management Area from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Jan. 9, 2016, at Woodland Dunes Nature Center. Cost is $10 and registration covers lunch and materials. Register by Jan. 4 by calling 920-793-4007.

This workshop will give the landowner the knowledge and resources necessary to manage invasive species on their land. A demonstration of control methods and a tour of restoration sites in and around Woodland Dunes will take place after lunch. Invasive species are detrimental to our land; they can inhibit habitat by reducing nut-bearing trees and forage, they can block views, restrict drainage and create a nuisance for pets. Invasive species out-compete desirable species in regeneration or reforestation situations, and they change the ecosystem, making it undesirable for native wildlife species.

Speakers will include the following:

— Tony Summers, coordinator of the Wisconsin First Detector Network, will present on the IPC connect app (for smart phones and tablets) and its applicability to private land management. This app is not only a mapping tool, but can also hold control information and photos linked to a GPS point and allows users to track infestations and control efforts over time.

— Jennifer Powell, land management coordinator for Woodland Dunes Nature Center and Preserve, will present on restoration of a 1,300-acre preserve. Topics will include site selection, methods of control and restoration, and will highlight decision-making and funding sources.

— Matt Rataczak, Natural Resources Conservation Service district conservationist, will present on two cost-share programs NRCS can offer landowners working on removing invasive species and restoring their land: the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).

Sponsored by Wisconsin DNR’s Weed Management Area Private Forest Grant Program and Thrivent Financial Action Team.

• Reedsville Sportsmen’s Club will start its Winter Archery league Jan. 5 and 7 with free open shooting.

Jan. 12 and 14 will be the start of the league, which will go for 10 weeks. Shooting will be from 6 to 9 p.m. each night. There will be 20-, 30- and 40-yard courses all shot the same night.

If you can't make it one night, you can shoot twice the next time you shoot.

Cost of the league is $50 for adults and $22.50 for junior shooters.

This league is for fun, and no awards are given. A fun night will be held at the end of the league.

Call John at 920-754-4527 for more details.

Reedsville Sportsmen’s Club is 2 miles north of Reedsville on Pleasantview Road.

• Many people are baffled — as I am, too — regarding the gray wolf being on the endangered species list. Wisconsin has a target of 350 or so wolves, so what are we doing with more than 800 or more of them roaming the landscape?

Planning to control the size of the packs and individual wolves should be left to the wildlife biologists and not some judge, who more than likely never saw anything in the wild, much less a wolf.

Maybe instead of the State of Wisconsin paying farmers for the cost of cattle that are being killed by wolves the money should come from the paychecks of the judge who keeps them protected. People in northern Wisconsin are very upset about this ruling, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t take wolf management into their own hands.

I don’t say we have to kill them off like our forefathers did, but a reasonable form of controlling their numbers should be in place.

• Ice is forming very slow this year compared to most years, making it unsafe to be on lakes and rivers. Hard-water fishing is lots of fun, but don’t take the chance of breaking through. Make sure when you do go on ice you have spikes to help yourself — and never go alone. Surviving a plunge into icy waters is much more likely if you have a companion to help out if falling through should occur.

• Just a few more days and 2015 will be behind us. It’s hard to believe I have been writing this column for more than 15 years. I want to thank all the contributors to this column, as I couldn’t do it without your help. One can only attend so many meetings or events, which does keep me on the move many nights each month. I look forward to keeping people informed on the outdoor activities in our area. The best are the comments I receive from a youngster when I have them in with their first or biggest deer, turkey or fish, as they really get a kick out of seeing themselves in the paper. Happy New Year to all of my readers from me and my family.

That’s it for this week so have fun in the great outdoors.