The Wisconsin DNR is accepting seedling orders for spring 2026 to support the state’s Trillion Trees Pledge.

• Community members can donate deer and elk antlers to be used as chew toys for Leader Dogs for the Blind.

Stephen Easterly, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist, will speak about waterfowl banding in Wisconsin and the Collins Marsh Wildlife Area at 6 p.m. Oct. 22.

Easterly’s presentation will be at the Neustadter Nature Center at Collins Marsh, 20021 County Road JJ, Reedsville. It will also cover a brief history of banding, and what, how and why we band birds in Wisconsin.

Arrive early and check out the migrating waterfowl from the Nature Center’s front porch.

Email collinsmarshnaturecenter@gmail.com for more details.

Maribel club plans gun sight-in days

Maribel Sportsman’s Club will hold gun sight-in days Oct. 25-26 and Nov. 8-9.

From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on those days, the public can take in their guns to get help sighting them.

Food and refreshments will also be available in the club’s upper bar room.

Donate antlers to Leader Dogs for the Blind

I will again be collecting deer and elk antlers for Deb Delie, a puppy raiser for Leader Dogs for the Blind.

Deer and elk antlers are cut up if they are too big for the puppies. They are used for chew toys for the puppies. These antlers don’t splinter when they are chewed.

I am already getting antlers this fall as people are remembering I have been collecting these antlers for Deb going on four years.

Antlers of any size, from spikes to large antlers, can be used. They can even be old antlers that were hanging in a garage for years.

If you have antlers you would like to donate to Leader Dogs for the Blind, give me, Bob Schuh, a call at 920-682-3106.

DNR accepting seedling orders

Wisconsin DNR is accepting seedling orders from Wisconsin landowners for trees and shrubs to be planted in spring 2026.

Wisconsin forest nurseries have provided high-quality, native tree seedlings, appropriate for planting throughout Wisconsin, for more than 100 years. Seedlings grown at the state nurseries are used for reforestation and conservation plantings on private, industrial, tribal and public lands.

Any tree seedlings planted will also get Wisconsin closer to its Trillion Trees Pledge of planting 100 million trees across the state by 2030.

Conifer species available this year include white cedar, balsam fir, jack, red and white pine, black and white spruce, and tamarack.

Hardwoods available include aspen, basswood, river and yellow birch, butternut, black cherry, hackberry, bitternut hickory, silver and sugar (hard) maple, bur, red, southern pin, swamp white and white oak, sycamore, and black walnut.

Shrubs include prairie crab, highbush cranberry, red-osier dogwood, hawthorn, American hazelnut and American plum.

Seedling orders can be placed using the form at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/treeplanting/order.

Glacial Lakes Conservancy hosts winter nature crafting fundraiser

Glacial Lakes Conservancy invites the community to celebrate the winter season and support local land conservation at an upcoming nature crafting fundraiser.

Held at GLC’s office in the Jake’s Café — A Lakeland Community, 529 Ontario Ave., Sheboygan, the event will take place Dec. 6 with a “snow date” of Dec. 13.

Participants can create their own winter porch pots using fresh evergreens, dried wildflowers and other natural elements. All materials are provided, including a 16-inch black pot made from recycled marine and curbside plastics.

The hands-on workshop is open to all skill levels, with step-by-step guidance from GLC partners LaValley Home & Garden.

Two time slots are available: 9:30-11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Attendees can enjoy complimentary cider or cocoa while crafting.

Proceeds will help preserve local landscapes, supporting GLC’s mission to protect forests, prairies, riverbeds and trails for future generations.

Space is limited; tickets can be purchased at https://www.lavalleyhg.org/events.

Snowmobile safety course begins later this month

Kettle Range Snow Riders will hold a snowmobile safety course Oct. 28, 30 and Nov. 1.

Classes will be at Mishicot Sportsman’s Club. Students must be 11-1/2 years or older. All three classes are required.

Register online at the Wisconsin DNR Go Wild website with your DNR customer number.

When is the next hunter safety course?

I am getting calls asking when the next hunter safety course will be held.

Maribel Sportsman’s Club offered these courses in April, May and August. The instructors are hunters themselves and want to be in the woods just as much as the rest of the hunting community — so that is why they are done before hunting seasons begin.

One person told me they always miss the announcements in the paper. The solution: Like the Maribel Sportsman’s Club on Facebook. All events are announced there, and when an announcement is posted for signing up, it will pop into your phone and you won’t miss it.

That’s it for this week, so have fun in the great outdoors.