First openers provide special meaning and opportunity to those who gather from the woods and waters, marshes and meadows.
During September’s first week, dove (Sept. 1), early goose (Sept.1), early teal (Sept. 1), sturgeon hook and line (Sept. 2), ginseng digging (Sept. 2), and black bear (Sept. 6) invite outdoors minded folks to try Wisconsin’s wilder side.
Seasons without a date or license also attract those who gather with cameras, note pads, and buckets and bags. Migratory birds are plentiful; sometimes migrations are from here to there. Other birds go from there, through here, to there. And a few come here from there.
Fruits of elderberries, late blackberries, grapes, apples, mushrooms, hickory nuts, and walnuts draw a quiet crowd but just as enthusiastic about their endeavor as the fisher with a rod.
Dried fruits and stems, a few firm but fleshy plants make their way to the floral bench. Bittersweet fruits, cones, pampas grass, cattails (wide and narrow leafed species) and acorns will show up in autumn bouquets, garlands, sprays and bunches.
Of special note are the ginseng crowds who are in the find-and-leave mode. This group of “sang” hunters, usually landowners, takes to their woods as the season opens with the intention of picking mature fruits, squeezing the seed and immediately planting it a short distance away from the parent plant.
This purpose is two-fold. The seed is not to be eaten by birds or mammals if it’s put in the soil as soon as ripe. It’s also less likely a trespasser/poacher will find the plant if the red berry “flag” is removed. Sometimes, if the plant has yellowed, the landowner will snip the stems and leaves at ground level, removing all tell-tale clues of where the valuable root is hidden, protecting the plant’s special root from poachers.
Ginseng purchasing firms believe green roots will bring diggers about what was paid last year, starting at about $200 a pound, or a bit more if it is something special.
Daily bag limits for ducks, geese and doves are spelled out in the regulation pamphlets, as well as time periods, season lengths, shot limitations, and stamp and license requirements.
Sturgeon tagging and in person registration are required for the month-long season, as well as a fishing license. Fishing locations are restricted.
A youth duck hunt is scheduled for Sept. 16-17, with the earliest regular waterfowl season opening Sept. 23, and Sept. 30 in the Southern Zone.
Drought conditions from the summer may have an impact on hunting conditions; scouting is therefore encouraged prior to the waterfowl openers.
Printed regulations and online forecasts should be available shortly, but unfortunately the quiet crowd will be on their own to comb the media for any when, where, how answers about fruits, nuts, roots, bouquets, and photographs.
— Jerry Davis is an Argyle native and a freelance writer who lives in Barneveld. He can be reached at sivadjam@mhtc.net or at 608-924-1112.
