Pepper nuts (or pfeffernuesse) cookies are a fixture in my bag when I’m in the woods pursuing fur-bearing animals. These crunchy cookies are a German holiday specialty. For some notes and potential substitutions, scroll down to the bottom of the recipe.
Continue reading “How to make pepper nuts – the ultimate outdoor cookies”
Any angler who is being completely honest with themselves will acknowledge that conversing with others about fishing is a balancing act.
One the one hand, most people who fish have at least some desire to share their knowledge and experiences. On the flip side, we are generally protective of our spots and various secret sauces that lead to our success. When interacting with other anglers, these competing sides present a constant struggle.
Continue reading “The art of the fishing conversation”
Spice up your upland bird arsenal with this buffalo pheasant tater tot recipe. If you’re interested in additional details or potential substitutions, scroll past the recipe for more.
Continue reading “Buffalo pheasant tater tots recipe”
Nathan’s note: I wrote this story in early August of 2018. Originally, I didn’t have a place to host it. Looking back, it made sense to me to share it with all of you here.
Tonight, I found myself in need of some serious decompression. So I decided to unwind with a trip to one of favorite stretches of river in my hometown.
I had it all planned out. There was no messing around. I packed my best flies, my $30 Fleet Farm fly rod and was going straight to my best spots. It’s been a tough week, but nothing that a couple hours of catching fish wouldn’t cure.
Continue reading “Life lessons from a great blue heron”
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It’s not so much about what it is, but when it is.
Fall is just a great time of year. Hunting, fishing, state championship high school football, the anticipation of Christmas and New Year’s, there’s a lot to be excited about.
Wisconsin’s nine-day gun deer season runs right across Thanksgiving. In the last few years, the weekend after the holiday has become, arguably, my favorite 48 hours of the hunting season.
Continue reading “The Big Push”
Participating in citizen science initiatives is one of the easiest ways those who enjoy the outdoors can help themselves. This is especially true of hunters and anglers.
As they saying goes, “we only protect that which we understand.” Those who hunt and fish have a unique grasp and perspective on how nature truly works. And there are some easy ways for us to share our point of view with the people actively seeking our assistance. Providing a helping hand in this regard can pay dividends for all involved and help others understand just why we value the outdoors so much.
Continue reading “Why it’s crucial hunters and anglers participate in citizen science”
Don’t you hate it when you have to scroll through a lengthy, random story just so you can find a recipe on a website? Well today’s your lucky day. This reverse-seared venison steak recipe will be right up top. I even included a bonus sauce recipe for you.
Continue reading “Reverse-seared venison steak recipe”
Gun deer hunting is the foremost outdoors tradition in Wisconsin.
Each year, over half a million licenses are sold. During the nine-day season, the state’s gun deer hunters temporarily become the eighth-largest active military in the world.
It would be pretty hard for you to know a handful of Wisconsinites and not find some connection to deer hunting. With nearly 10 percent of the state’s population participating in the sport each year, deer hunting is engrained in our culture and that makes me incredibly happy.
Continue reading “Keeping tradition alive during an unordinary Wisconsin deer season”
I’ve always had an interest in birds.
Both sets of my grandparents had feeders in their yards, and when I visited I always enjoyed watching the flurry of activity that came with the approach of hungry birds.
Continue reading “How birding has made me a better outdoorsman”
Keeping a hunting and fishing journal is something that has been on my list for a long time.
I’ve been trying to keep a journal, with varying degrees of success, for the better part of the last four hunting seasons.
2020 was the first time I committed to making a proper outdoor journal a reality. As of this writing, I’ve been on 126 fishing trips, 17 hunting trips and enjoyed seven dip netting sessions that year.
This past year, I was able to continue the trend of success by completing another yearly journal.
I also regularly found myself going back to the 2020 edition for tips and ideas. It was an incredibly valuable tool. It even settled a couple friendly disagreements.
Continue reading “Tips for keeping a hunting and/or fishing journal”
Nathan Woelfel Outdoors 