Now…THIS is what Fall’s all about! Warm days. Light breezes. Cooler late afternoons. Crystal blue almost cloudless skies. Colors everywhere!

In recent days, we’ve experienced all that plus some pretty good hunting for woodcock, grouse and Canada geese. Surprising numbers of grouse and woodcock showing up, according to hunters we encounter. We’ve certainly been seeing them, too.

Haven’t done much with ducks yet, but that’s right around the corner, as soon as some of the better spots of dry ground emerge from the high water of the Upper Mississippi and Chippewa Rivers.

Over on Lake Michigan action has been very hot for Great Lakes muskies in Green Bay. My guide friend Brett Alexander has plenty of “Xs” marking catch location on his GPS unit…trolling 3 mph, fishing shallow bait runners, every color scheme under the sun. He’s been boating and releasing 45-50 inch fish with regularity the past couple of weeks.

Salmon are running up tributary creeks. Crappies have been very active on the Chippewa Flowage and St. Croix Lake.

Some bow hunters report seeing higher than anticipated numbers of deer, and PLENTY of bear ticks. Speaking of bruins, we had a great hunt with a family group around Barnes, WI – a bear treed, but only shots were with digital cameras. As one of the group, 10-year-old Jack McNamara of Valencia, California told me after I asked what he likes best about bear hunting: “I do it for the dogs!”

Some of you might have noticed in recent episodes my dog, Ellie, is recuperating from surgery to repair an ACL tear suffered hunting sharptails in North Dakota. The little girl is doing just fine. I feel lost without her in the field or walking around home. Look for her return early next spring.

Meanwhile, anyone interested in taking this lonely heart bird and waterfowl hunter along just for kicks? Until next time…adios.

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