River Currents Badger Sportsman 10-22-08

gengberg October 24th, 2008


     I’m writing this month’s column with a heavy heart. I just got word the other day that a great friend and my mentor, Tony Dean, had passed away from complications after an appendectomy operation. The 67-year old Dean was with family members at his home in his Pierre, South Dakota living room overlooking the Missouri River. His wife, Darlene DeChandt, said, “He could see the water, he could see the ducks. He knew he was sick, but he said, you know, I’m not afraid.”

Dean had his appendix removed in late September and was moved to a Sioux Falls hospital a week later to treat complications. He returned home last Thursday (October 16). His death was not a surprise.

Tony Dean was best known for his hunting and fishing television show, Tony Dean Outdoors and his daily radio show, Dakota Backroads. Tony had one of the most distinctive voices among outdoor communicators and his weekend broadcasts were looked forward to by a generation of hunters and anglers who had come to value his conservation philosophy and the outdoors that he brought to them.

Chris Wood, the chief operating officer for Trout Unlimited, said, “He taught so many of us to stand up and speak for fish and wildlife and the habitats that they depend on. He was a giant of conservation and an inspiration to everyone who cares about the outdoors.”

Dean had recently sold his television program to Jason Mitchell of Devils Lake, North Dakota and helped Jason by co-hosting “Jason Mitchell Outdoors”. Mitchell praised Dean for standing up against people and organizations that did not have conservation at heart.

Recently, Dean took on the NRA and just before he died he recorded commercials for Barack Obama. If Obama was to win the November election, Dean was going to be on his transition team. His wife, Darlene, said that Tony was thrilled. He felt that Obama was the one with enough insight and was young enough to appreciate land conservation. Dean also was planning on creating a conservation think tank that would focus on protecting the hunting and fishing values of his beloved prairie.

I was lucky enough to have met Tony over 20 years ago while I was fishing and guiding full-time. He encouraged me to start writing and gave me the “blueprint” for my radio shows, Outdoor Horizons and Gary Engberg Outdoors. Though, I didn’t get to see Tony regularly he was always there for questions and advice to a fledging outdoor communicator. I called and emailed him whenever I needed another opinion and his conservation values were always cherished. The outdoors has lost one of its great voices who will be difficult if not impossible to replace.

I feel lucky to have known Tony Dean and I’m sure that he is watching over us and hoping that the conservation ethic that he loved is being followed and taught to future generations. Tony Dean’s ashes will be spread over the prairies, rivers, and lakes of the Dakotas where he loved to hunt and fish.

Voting

   I urge all sportsmen and women to vote this November. Voting is one of the greatest gifts that democracy gives its citizens. I’m not going to tell someone who to vote for in the coming election. But, do research on how both candidates stand on issues that are important to you and your family. My politics are a little right of center, but I always try to vote for who I consider to be the best candidate that supports my views. Important issues to me are; conservation, new and alternative energy sources (solar, wind, bio), the environment, Second Amendment rights, security, and of course the economy. There is no doubt that we have to develop and use new energy sources and get away from fossil fuels. Decide what issues are important to you and see how McCain and Obama stack up on these issues before you vote. If you fail to vote, then you don’t have any right to complain about what an elected official is doing!

We have to maintain the environment and keep working on developing cleaner fuels without any further pollution. I suggest voters also check on where the candidates stand on drilling for oil in ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) and off the country’s coasts. Another energy issue is clean coal and ethanol. I like to see farmers getting a good price for corn, but is ethanol the answer? The high price of corn is getting more and more farmers to opt out of the Conservation Reserve Program or CRP which has been a boom to ALL wildlife for over 20 years. CRP also has helped to clean the air, the water, and the soil over the years. This is one of the best government programs in history and was accomplished by a coalition of many diverse groups working together. The key is working together and that is rarely seen in the government these days.

Antlerless Deer Hunt

   The state held a four-day antlerless gun deer season from October 16 to October 19. The hunt was for only antlerless deer in the 11 county South Central Region (SCR) of the state. A major change was made this year by combining the Disease Eradication Zone (DEZ) and the much larger Herd Reduction Zone (HRZ) into one CWD-MZ zone.

I registered deer during the four-day season at the Wilderness Fish and Game store in Sauk City, Wisconsin. There were many hunters out in the area with many hunters shooting a doe to get their buck tag and many out trying to harvest a deer for the venison to feed their families. The down economy has many people looking for ways to save some money and adding venison to the family foods can help. Venison has become a much wanted commodity at local food pantries as more and more people find that venison is low in fat and great for burgers, tacos, and much more.

I haven’t seen the DNR numbers for the hunt, but I’m sure that it was a success with helping to cull some deer out of the state’s massive deer herd while providing food for the needy.

Target Hunger

Target Hunger is a collection of Community Action Programs, food pantries, and butchers who’s goal is to help those in need by providing healthy and free venison that has been tested for CWD. The state of Wisconsin used to pay for many of these donation programs, but they don’t have the funds these days. So, it is up to these groups and you to help the needy and less fortunate. While registering deer, I found out that many hunters were planning on harvesting an extra deer or two for their families and for neighbors who don’t hunt. Many local churches are also helping find deer for needy families. This is a great way to have people helping people in tough times!

Last year, Project Hunger gave away 700 deer to the needy. This year, the group is hoping to have 2000 deer to distribute to those who need some help. Donations are also welcomed by the group, if you don’t have a deer to donate. Contact me for Target Hunger information and where deer may be dropped off for donation.

Hooked on Fishing Not Drugs

  This worthy program is now in its 15th year in the Sauk-Prairie School District. The program is an outdoor learning experience which helps children make healthy choices in the community and at home. Susan Baumann-Duren, the drug and alcohol counselor, and a group of core individuals (Wayne Whitemarsh, Father Larry Heitke, Sauk County Warden John Buss, Jack Frehill, Wayne Bruno, Dan Fuller, Jean Wipperfurth, and others) got together years ago and decided to try incorporating a new program called “Hooked on Fishing Not Drugs” into the curriculum. Many of these individuals have helped the program from the beginning and have played an important and integral role in keeping it going. Fifteen years and thousands of children later, the program is still going strong and making a difference in our ever-growing community.

Sauk-Prairie second graders from Spruce Street, Grand Avenue, Merrimac, Black Hawk, and St. Aloysius schools got to participate in the program for a day last month. I’ve had the chance to participate in the program’s fishing class over the years while observing the program’s growth and success over the years. The all-day event has been held at the farm and campground of the Ty Sandmire family. The farm is nestled in the beautiful and colorful Baraboo Hills, across from the defunct Badger Army Ammunition Plant. The farm has its own spring-fed pond stocked with fish and even a natural cave on the property. The Sandmires should be thanked for donating the use of their farm and its facilities for all these years.

According to Baumann-Duren, the alcohol, drug, and tobacco coordinator for the Sauk-Prairie School District and a district social worker, the main purpose of the program is to give children healthy choices in their lives while taking the place that peer pressure gives to do drugs, drink, and smoke. Many surveys have shown that if children stay free of drugs through middle school, they have a better chance of staying drug free the rest of their lives.

Father Heitke with help from the Gollon Fish Farm in Dodgeville have gotten the pond stocked with panfish every few years. Every time that the group has purchased fish, the Gollon’s have donated more fish for stocking. Though, the children are taught catch and release the pond needs regular stocking so that the kids can regularly catch fish.

A typical day would include a nature hike in the surrounding woods looking at all aspects of nature, fishing, a safety talk by Warden Buss, cooperative games, a discussion about peer pressure and drug and alcohol use and alternatives, and a talk and demonstration from Sauk Prairie Police Officer Katy and the town’s drug dog, Chico.

The children are in each section for 45 minutes and then rotate to another group. Bag lunches were brought for the group during the mid-day break. The entire day is packed with meaningful and fun activities that many of the children had never participated in like, fishing. Some of the children had never caught a fish before or seen a crappie or bluegill up close. Fishing introduces the kids to a life-long activity that they can do the rest of their lives. The look on a child’s face after catching their first fish is something special.

Parents and grandparents are encouraged to come and help in the day’s activities. Many parents even take the day off from work to be with their children while accompanying them from activity to activity. Again, the program stresses the importance of the family and the community in keeping tomorrow’s youth drug and alcohol free.

This is a great program and schools statewide should try to emulate it in all their curriculums.

Giant Pumpkin Cruise

Rich “JR” Hildebrandt is always looking for new ways to try and raise money for the Tri-City Children’s Dream Foundation Inc., a local organization which grants dreams to children with special needs. Some children have gone to Disney World and NASCAR races to name a few wishes granted. JR and the Board of Directors are now trying to expand what the Tri-City Children’s Dream Foundation does. They now want to build a place where children and their families can go to get away from the day to day routines and enjoy some quality family time together at no cost. The projected cost is $1,000,000.00.

October 6, JR set out from Nekoosa on the Wisconsin River in a 700 pound pumpkin to help raise money through donations to the group. Hildebrandt planned to paddle, push, and do whatever it takes to make it to the Mississippi river at Prairie du Chien in the giant pumpkin. Despite some adverse weather and low water on the Wisconsin River, JR made it to the Mississippi River on Monday, October 13. I have yet to hear the dollar total raised, but I hope it was substantial! Check out the group’s website at www.childrensdream.org or that of FLOW for photos. Call 1-877-232-9708 for making donations and information. This is a good organization!

You may always contact me at my website, www.garyengbergoutdoors.com for any information on anything that I write about or outdoor questions.

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