April is when outdoor folks, young and old, love to simply see what’s emerging, has survived winter, and may be invading new territories.

It’s a get reacquainted time since we left the woods after gun deer season, late rabbit hunting, or cutting evergreen boughs for decorating.  There is less of everything, not so much to overwhelm, misidentify, or to fill every space.

This can be a disadvantage, according to Jeff Fredrick, an avid turkey hunter, artist, caller, seminar leader, and nature lover from Mindoro, Wisconsin.  “During the early turkey hunting periods, beginning April 17, the woods are open, vegetation is sparse and turkeys can see us from a long ways away.  Hunters need to know the areas they plan to hunt and be in their preferred location before that first gobble.” Fredrick said.  “It’s not a time to move around a lot but a time to remain, be patient, and have the camera or gun ready and watch the woods wake up at dawn.”

But not every day is prime turkey hunting, scouting or photographing, according to Fredrick.

“What do I do if it’s raining or snowing?  Stay in.  There’s a lot more to turkey hunting in spring than shooting a bird.  We have seven days and can get authorizations for multiple hunting periods.  I want that beautiful daybreak, apples flowering, morels popping, birds singing, and sun rising,” he said.

We’ve heard this many times, “It’s more than shooting the bird,” and so much is lost when the weather is bad, even dangerous.  Fredrick realizes birds can be killed or photographed in a snowstorm or thunderstorm, and he’s done that a time or two, but is confident enough that if Wednesday gives terrible weather, wait until Thursday or even Friday to begin a hunt.  

“There’s more to turkey hunting than killing a bird,” he reminds.  “There’s experiencing spring.  Wisconsin has excessive opportunities, and so do neighbor states.”

Over the counter authorizations are still available in zones 1 and 3 for periods D, E, and F; while zones 2, 4, and 5 only have Period F left.  All permits for zones 6 and 7 have been sold.

Trout anglers are waiting for warmer weather and will start watching for insect hatches on the water.  Bugs, Bret Schultz, of Black Earth, Wisconsin calls them.  “One of the most abundant insect hatches will be seen when the morning sun warms the water temperature and sunshine is good so the hatch occurs from noon to 2 pm.” Schultz’s said.

Precipitation is an ongoing problem in most trout streams.  “We’ll take all the precipitations we can get; rain is best but snow is not to be turned away with these conditions,” he said.  “I checked several streams in Iowa County and there is “no” water in many and beavers are really, really bad in places.”

One stream in particular, which is rare in Wisconsin, is a pure brook trout water, according to Schultz.  The beavers need to be trapped and some of the dams removed because the flow is low, slow and silt has covered gravel and stones, which would make good reproduction sites.

Youth turkey hunting, April 13 and 14, is a great time for adult hunters to become familiar with conditions and turkey populations.  Young hunters, 15 and younger, need a turkey license, wild turkey stamp, and a valid authorization to hunt during the youth period as well as hunting another of the six regular turkey periods.  

Check regulations for additional requirements.

Another way adults can promote hunting is by volunteering to become hunter education instructors.  Opportunities are available throughout the state through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Birding activities are becoming more abundant with Bald Eagles hatching, Eastern Bluebirds nesting, and migrant birds returning. Visit varied habitats to expand opportunities for seeing and experiencing new species.

Plant blooming is ongoing in small catkin flowers and larger, showy plants.  Consider keeping a list of dates of different species flowering while beginning to search for the first mushroom fruiting bodies of cup fungi, false morels, and later true morels.  While morels, for example, are often sold, those picked on state property can be consumed or given away, they cannot be sold, but those growing on private property may be marketed.

Contact Jerry Davis, a freelance writer, at sivadjam@mhtc.net or 608.924.1112.