As the chilling cold fills the air and everyone is excited for the holidays, do not forget sturgeon spearing is also just around the corner.

As you start to prepare for the upcoming season, don’t forget to check out the 2024 sturgeon spearing regulations, which are now available on the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ sturgeon spearing webpage.

Before you head out onto the ice, it is always good to make sure you have read the new regulations for harvest caps and registration stations and get answers to questions about regulations during the season.

The DNR has also been preparing for the spearing season with some other information. Once the waters of the Lake Winnebago system begin to harden and spearers start looking for the ideal location for their sturgeon spearing shanty, remember to check the 2023 chironomid report. It can be your guide to locations around Lake Winnebago and the upriver lakes with high chironomid densities.

And for those interested, you can find out how many sturgeon were tagged during the spring of 2023 as well as how population values are doing compared to past years in the 2023 Winnebago lake sturgeon spearing report.

As always, be safe out on the ice, make sure you know the rules and regulations, and have a productive season. Here’s more about the season:

• The spearing season begins the second Saturday in February and lasts for 16 days, or until any of the sex-specific harvest caps for that fishery have been reached. The 2024 sturgeon spearing season will open at 7 a.m. Feb. 10 and close Feb. 25, unless one of the harvest caps is reached earlier.
• Spearers can fish from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. each day the fishery is open and are required to register their fish at a DNR-operated registration station by 2 p.m. of the same day the fish is harvested. Length, weight, sex and tagging information are collected from each registered fish, which is used to determine season length.

Last week’s column:How the buck known as the ‘Mishicot Monster’ made his fatal mistake, and more in the latest Manitowoc outdoors report

Scoping the Great Outdoors: Read on for more outdoors news from throughout Manitowoc County and beyond.

Junior Rifle Winter Program accepting registrations

Registrations for the 2024 Manitowoc Recreation Department Junior Rifle Winter Program are now being taken online at https://rb.gy/c9cqn9; at the Manitowoc Recreation Office inside the Senior Center, 3330 Custer St.; or by calling 920-686-3060.

The semester will begin Jan. 10, will be held for 10 weeks, and will end in March. The program is open to ages 8 and older, adults included. Parents may sign up with their youngsters.

Shooting sessions will be at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 5:30 p.m. Thursdays. Cost is $45 for city residents or $64 for non-residents. .22-caliber rifles and ammo are supplied by the program.

Classes are at the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office firing range, 1025 S. Ninth St. Focuses of the program include safe gun handling, respect for firearms and marksmanship.

It should be noted that if Wednesday classes are too small, they may be combined into one class. The instructor will let participants know on the first night of class.

Scholarships are available for those who cannot afford the fee.

Anyone with questions can call 920-684-6791 or email mantyjrrifle@gmail.com.

$5K donation made in memory of Beau Repinski

Maribel club’s indoor archery begins Jan. 10

Maribel Sportsman’s Club will start its indoor archery league Jan. 10. Shooting will be from 6 to 9 p.m. each week.

This is a fun league in which you shoot against your own score. Contact Rodney Gove at 920-901-2654 if you have any questions.

Indoor archery starts Jan. 9 at Reedsville club

Reedsville Sportsmen’s Club’s indoor archery league will start with open shooting Jan. 9 and 11, both from 6 to 9 p.m. The league will then start Jan. 16 and 18, also from 6 to 9 p.m.

Contact Jeff Schneider at 920-323-2854 with any questions.

Manitowoc Gun Club readies for winter trap league

Manitowoc Gun Club will hold winter trap league from Jan. 4 through March 28.

This is a 250-target league, individual Lewis Class, 16-yard, and runs 6-9 p.m. (weather permitting) each Thursday. A one-time $15 Lewis fee will be charged and there is an optional one-time $5 league-high gun charge. Questions can be directed to Tom Schulz at 920-973-4905.

Portions of state forest to close temporarily for timber harvest

The Wisconsin DNR has announced portions of the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Pike Lake Unit will be temporarily closed for public safety during a timber harvest at any time that the ground freeze allows from now through March 2024.

Main sections of the trail system within the property will be closed to hiking and snowshoeing. The property will have signs posted at trail entrances once the ground freezes, notifying visitors of the start of the trail closure. Signs will be removed when trail closures are no longer in place.

Sustainable timber harvesting is an important aspect of forest health. Periodic harvesting of trees is necessary to maintain forest health, wildlife habitat and recreational spaces. As part of a sustainable timber harvest, individual trees or groups of trees are removed to increase space and sunlight, encourage new growth and species diversity.

More Bob Schuh:Read more Scoping the Great Outdoors

Happy New Year!

Here we are ready to flip the calendar to a new year. Time sure goes by fast as we all get older. Here’s hoping the new year brings you health, happiness and lots of hunting and fishing trips.

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