Coulee News - Printable Version

Story originally printed in the Coulee News or online at www.couleenews.com

Published - Friday, February 29, 2008

AN OUTDOORSMAN’S JOURNAL: Global what? Little sign of warming seen in these parts

Riley Schuster's first coyote will be a trophy on his wall.
Photo by Mark Walters

Hello friends,

The title to this week’s column does not mean that I do not believe in global warming. It does mean that wherever I go this winter, snow and cold air temperatures are sure to follow.

This past week, my 19-year-old nephew, Riley Schuster, me and my dogs Ice and Brownie went on a remote winter camping, ice fishing and coyote hunting trip on backwaters of the Mississippi River near Trempealeau in La Crosse County.

Monday, Feb. 18

High 19, low 3

Today’s drive would begin after another snowstorm and take place during a minor 2-inch snowfall. The forecast for the second night of our adventure, in which Riley and I would be sleeping in a tent, called for an air temperature of 20 below.

Riley and I had our work cut out for us this afternoon as we unloaded my snowmobile and two sleds loaded with gear. My plan was to take Riley and the pups in with our first journey, while pulling the two sleds, drop them off and return for a final two loads.

We put up my 10x10 foot tent up on the ice about two miles downriver from my truck and then tried to achieve one of Riley’s two goals, either have him catch a 40-inch northern pike or larger or shoot his first coyote, either of which he planned to mount.

We built a comfortable camp and made sure we double-tarped the tent to keep it as warm as possible. Inside the tent, we set up two cots and flipped an sled upside down for a table. I use 20-pound propane tanks that I run a heater, propane light and cook stove with.

We each put out three tip-ups baited with shiners and found out that — at least on night No. 1 — the local fish population had lockjaw.

Tuesday, Feb. 19

High 6, low 12 below

It was 12 below when Riley and I got out of bed this morning, and it took a solid mindset to get into fishing. We were rewarded for our efforts almost instantly when Riley had a flag go up and iced a chunky 28-inch northern pike, which we later filleted and fried.

At about noon, Riley and I told the dogs to stay at camp and we went on a coyote hunt. I am still in the learning stages as far as coyote hunting goes but was excited about the experience. We saw plenty of sign, but after two hours had not called in an animal (that we knew about) with my imitation dying rabbit, mouth call.

The rest of the day we hung out at camp hoping to catch a big gator and trying to stay warm on a day where the high was 92 degrees cooler than our body temperatures.

Wednesday, Feb. 20

High 7, low 21 below

We ate Riley’s northern pike last night, and it tasted very good! This morning it was really chilly when we climbed out of the tent at first light. The sad reality of the present cold snap was that fish catching was not meant to happen.

About 10 a.m. Riley and I headed out from camp and went on another coyote hunt.

I had been calling on our first set up for about 10 minutes when I heard a blast from Riley’s 12 gauge. I could not see Riley because he was watching a different direction and was on the other side of a tree. Riley watched the coyote that was looking for an easy meal and said it actually was hiding behind trees as it made it’s approach and than met its fate.

The whacking of the coyote was a nice ending to a positive trip in which an uncle and his nephew met the elements and had a good time doing it.

Soon there will be mosquitoes and humidity and sunscreen will be required. Sunset.