The Przewalski’s horse is the only truly wild

www.osceolasun.com Wisconsin State Park campgrounds opening June 10

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will reopen state campgrounds on June 10 with special conditions to ensure the safety of staff and visitors.

Some of the changes that campers and park visitors will experience beginning June 10 include:

Automatic touchless check-in.

New signs to educate visitors on recreating responsibly.

Park offi ces will remain closed to the public. RESERVATIONS

Camping reservations will be accepted by phone (1-888-947-2757) and online only to eliminate face to face interaction with DNR staff.

Same-day camping reservations are also now available by phone (1-888- 947-2757) and the online reservation system.

Check-in is no longer necessary at the offi ce or visitor station when coming to a property. Please proceed directly to your campsite and begin setup. Property staff will visit sites to monitor occupancy.

Campers should note that Rock Island State Park remains closed through June 30. The Washington Island Ferry Line has also currently suspended all trips to and from Rock Island.

Camping reservations for June 8 or 9 will be canceled and refunded; if reservations for a longer stay begin on June 8/9 and extend beyond June 10 your arrival will automatically be adjusted to June 10.

GROUP CAMPING, SHELTER AND AMPHITHEATERS

Group camping, shelters, and amphitheaters will be closed through June 30.

All reservation holders will be contacted and provided a full refund.

RESTROOMS AND BUILDINGS

Most restrooms at state properties are now open.

Some remote water fountains may be closed in the day use area of the

Wisconsin state campgrounds will open June 10.

“If you want to catch walleyes there is only one thing you need to know,” said Ben Elfelt of Shafer, Minn. His tongue-in-cheek reply was, “Where the walleyes are.” In this second search for the perfect b oat, I talked to Elfelt, Polk County Park and Trails Coordinator, successful walleye guide of Prime Time Guide Service, married to Kim, a very good angler herself, and father of almost 2 year old Eleanor. More about how to catch walleyes later.

Like most of us Ben started out in his dad Tony’s boat. “Dad was a panfi sh angler. He owned a nice little 16’ Lund. I was thinking musky and walleyes as an 11 year old kid and wanted to take his boat out on my own. Dad said I could take the boat out on my own when I could swim across the lake and back wearing a life jacket.” Soon Ben could us the boat at his pleasure and eventually Tony’s 16 footer was his. They also had a pontoon boat, but Ben quickly realized that’s a pleasure craft, not a boat to seriously fi sh in.

Ben later found out that he didn’t need a driver’s license to get around Forest Lake. “With my Lund on Forest Lake I didn’t need a car. I’d pick up my friends and we’d boat Wild River

Trails

to wherever we wanted to get to around town.” Next Ben became a very good muskie hunter. Then he Jim Bennett went after walleyes and found them easily also.

As a kid Ben dreamed of fi shing Mille Lacs Lake, Cass and Winnie. After graduating high school, getting into college and then marrying, Ben decided he needed a bigger boat. “I saw a For Sale $500 sign by this nice big newer Crestliner. But the owner said that the boat for sale was actually a Lund Predator nearby that needed some work. As newly married college students, they couldn’t afford a big boat so with a little love and hard work Ben fi xed up the boat, then thought he would try his hand at a little guiding.

Another search for the perfect boat

park or have the bubbler turned off and have access to the water spigot only.

All other facilities will remain closed, including towers, shelters, playgrounds, nature centers, headquarters, contact stations, and concessions.

Equipment rentals are unavailable at this time. FIREWOOD

Firewood is not available at state parks at

All of us think we can be guides. We can’t. Ben could. He told me he was getting old fast at age 25, throwing musky baits and realized he could catch walleye while other people struggled. He decided to try his hand at guiding.

“You have to be where the walleyes are. They move seasonally and I soon found out that electronics were the key to fi nding them. I really took my time locating them on a little black fi sh fi nder with a 4” screen.” Ben was successful right off the bat and hooked up with a couple bait shops to get his name out there. He knew right away he needed a bigger boat.

“Walleye fi shing is all about boat control. A bigger boat is more stable. I needed a better trolling motor and outboard. I started looking every day, mostly online, and soon realized that boats in South Dakota were 15-20% cheaper than here. I found a Lund Pro V tiller and pretty much bought it over the phone. Set it up with a Hummingbird fi sh locator and Minn Kota trolling motor that could be linked together wirelessly. With a simple remote I could run everything from the back of the boat.”

I fi sh with Ben occasionally and we catch fi sh, 20 to 30 walleye and or crappie a night, normal for Ben, not me. I asked him about his best times on the water guiding. “There were many times we lost count. I knew the anglers were happy when I asked them if they wanted another picture taken with a fi sh they just caught and they’d answer, ‘No. We have

SEE BENNETT, PAGE 11

The Outdoorsman’s Journal is brought to you by:

THE SUN

715-294-2165 Fax: 715-294-2892

METRO

this time and should be purchased before campers arrive.

Campers are reminded that certifi ed fi rewood that has been properly heat-treated or aged location to kill any infesting pests or diseases to protect Wisconsin’s trees must be purchased within 10 miles of their camping location. ADMISSION

Annual park stickers and trail passes are required to visit state parks and trails.

Annual stickers are available for purchase online or with credit card by phone 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. seven days a week by calling toll free: 1-888- 305-0398.

Annual trail and daily passes are NOT available for purchase at individual properties. Visitors must have an annual admission sticker adhered to their vehicle or proof of purchase for entry.

Once proof of purchase is shown, visitors must place proof of purchase on the dash of the windshield while parked within the boundary of the property.

The 2020 annual vehicle admission sticker is valid through Dec. 31, 2020.

Annual state trail pass is required for anyone age 16 or older biking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding or inline skating on certain trails. A state trail pass is NOT required for walking or hiking. The annual trail passes are valid through Dec. 31 of the year they are issued.

CAPACITY AND CLOSURES

Due to high demand, many properties will likely reach their pre-determined capacity limits. When this happens, properties will close until existing visitors leave, and capacity is reduced.

Visitors are encouraged to explore other DNR recreation areas or visit during non-peak hours before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.

The following State Natural Areas remain closed: Pewits Nest, Parfrey’s Glen, Dells of the Wisconsin River, Gibraltar Rock.

Attractions, including beaches, where social distancing cannot be achieved may close as needed. EVENTS

All events and special event permits are canceled through June 30.

Volunteer activities will also follow the Bounce Back Plan and be permitted on a case-bycase basis depending on group size and whether the activity can be done maintaining 6 feet of space between volunteers.

The DNR urges state park visitors to do their part when visiting DNR properties. Most Wisconsin state parks, forests and other day-use areas do not have garbage or recycling bins. When you visit, please take your garbage and recyclables home with you. We all play a vital role in taking care of our natural resources. Following the Leave No Trace principles helps protect the land for generations to come. Fight the Bite! Ticks are out, and visitors should take precautions to prevent Lyme Disease.

Visitors are reminded to practice social distancing of 6 feet, refrain from congregating in large groups, travel only within your home communities and follow all existing state park rules and guidelines. Visitors are also encouraged to wear masks in situations where social distancing is diffi cult.

The DNR continues to receive the most up-todate information and will adjust operations as conditions change. We will also continue to monitor on-the-ground circumstances each day to determine additional conditions that may become necessary. Before visiting other properties, please check with individual parks regarding changes to park operations.

For specifi c information regarding COVID-19 we encourage the public to frequently monitor the DHS website for updates, and to follow @DHSWI on Facebook and Twitter, or dhs.wi on Instagram. Additional information can be found on the CDC website.