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ATLATL PREDATES THE BOW AND
ARROW, AND EARLY INHABITANTS OF
WHAT WE NOW CALL WISCONSIN USE
USED IT TO HUNT WOOLLY, MAMMOTHS
AND OTHER BIG GAME.
LAST WEEK, WE LEARNED ABOUT THE
HISTORY OF THE ATLATL, AND IN
JUST A FEW MINUTES, WE'LL ATTEND
A MODERN INTERNATIONAL
COMPETITION ON WORLD ATLATL DAY.
THEN WE'LL TURN THE CLOCK BACK
TO 1988 AS NANCY FRANK VISITS A
FOX DEN WITH JEFF ENGEL, BUT
FIRST, I'LL FISH FOR LAKE
MICHIGAN TROUT AND SALMON WITH
DUMPER DAN SPORT FISHING
CHARTERS OF SHEBOYGAN AND THE
HIGH BIDDERS FROM THE "OUTDOOR
WISCONSIN" BANQUET.
I'M DAN SMALL, AND IT'S TIME
ONCE AGAIN FOR "OUTDOOR
WISCONSIN."
♪ SUMMER TO FALL, WINTER TO
SPRING ♪
♪ FROM GREEN BAY TO WHERE THE
ST. CROIX SINGS ♪
♪ FROM KETTLE MORAINE TO
SUPERIOR'S SHORE ♪
♪ OUTDOOR WISCONSIN ♪
♪ OUTDOOR WISCONSIN ♪♪
>>
♪♪
>> IT'S A BEAUTIFUL JUNE MORNING
HERE IN THE PORT OF SHEBOYGAN
AND WE'RE GOING OUT WITH DUMPER
DAN'S SPORT FISHING CHARTER,
ABOARD DUMPER DAN BOAT NUMBER
THREE AND OUR CAPTAIN IS JOSH
ALTMAN AND OUR FIRST MATE IS
AARON BYRD.
>> WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO IS WALK
TO THE BACK CENTER OF THE BOAT,
NO MATTER WHAT ROD IS, THAT'S
WHERE THE FLIGHT TAKES PLACE.
>> HOW HAS IT BEEN LATELY WITH
THE CHARTERS?
>> WE'VE BEEN BUSY.
THE FISHING ITSELF IS THE BEST I
COULD DESCRIBE HAS BEEN SPOTTY.
IT'S BEEN A COLD SPRING SO FAR.
WE'VE HAD MANY WEATHER CHANGES
AS YOU'VE BEEN TOLD, AT THE DOCK
BEFORE, AND SO WE'VE STILL BEEN
FISHING KIND OF THE SAME COLD
WATER.
FISHING OUR FULL ENTIRE SPREAD,
15 RODS, LOOKING FROM TOP TO
BOTTOM FOR THE BEST FISHING.
>> HOW FAR OUT DO WE GO
TYPICALLY.
>> WE'VE BEEN FISHING 2 MILES TO
8 MILES, SO WORKING AN EAST-WEST
PATTERN.
>> WE HAD A COLD FRONT BLOW IN
LAST NIGHT.
IT WAS KIND OF -- OR YESTERDAY,
IT WAS KIND OF ROUGH OUT HERE.
>> IT WAS VERY ROUGH OUT HERE.
WE CANCELLED OUR AFTERNOON
TRIPS, WAVES GOT TO BE ABOUT
8-FOOT, DEFINITELY CRASHING OVER
THE PIER IS DEFINITELY UNSAFE
FISHING CONDITIONS.
>> BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S SET
DOWN TODAY.
>> BEAUTIFUL.
IT'S AMAZING HOW A LAKE THIS
SIZE CAN CALM DOWN OVERNIGHT AND
AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S CALM.
>> LET'S HOPE WE CAN GET OUT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY OUR BEST,
THAT'S FOR SURE.
>> OUR SPECIAL GUEST TODAY IS
MIKE SCHULTZ AND MIKE BOUGHT
THIS TRIP AT OUR "OUTDOOR
WISCONSIN" BANQUET.
NOW YOU'RE A REGULAR OUGHT AT
OUR BANQUET.
>> IT'S A GREAT EVENT.
I ENJOY GOING THERE AND MEETING
NEW PEOPLE AND EVERYBODY HAS GOT
AN INTEREST IN THE OUTDOORS, SO
IT'S A GREAT EVENT.
THE FOOD IS GOOD, I THINK LAST
TIME WE HAD NICE ROAST DUCK,
WILD RICE, IT WAS AN EXCELLENT
EVENT.
>> YOU BROUGHT SOME FRIENDS
ALONG WITH YOU TO ENJOY THE
TRIP.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
I HAVE MY FRIEND BOB AND TIM AND
MY SON-IN-LAW BEN, THEY'RE ALL
AVID OUTDOORS PEOPLE AND IT'S A
GOOD DAY ON THE WATER.
>> WE NORMALLY CHOOSE AN ORDER,
BECAUSE OTHERWISE IF WE ALL
START CATCHING FISH SHALL IT
GETS CHAOTIC.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THAT?
>> WE'LL DO IT BY AGE.
I'M THE OLDEST ONE HERE, SO THEY
CAN MAKE ALL THE MISTAKES AND WE
CAN LOOK A LOT BETTER WHEN IT'S
MY TURN TO PULL A FISH.
>> I'LL FOLLOW YOU.
BY THE TIME WE ALL GET ONE,
MAYBE WE'LL KNOW WHAT WE'RE
DOING.
>>
>> OH,.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WHO'S UP, GUYS?
>> REMEMBER, DON'T PULL BACK.
JUST START CRANKING.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE GOT THE FIRST ONE, GUYS.
GOOD WORK.
>> GOT THE ROD FOR YOU.
>> A LITTLE LAKE TROUT.
CAN'T BEAT THAT.
THIS IS PERFECT, THROW HER ON
THE GRILL, THESE READY TO GO.
BEN DID A GOOD JOB.
HOPEFULLY MY FISH WILL BE
BETTER, SO A LITTLE BIT MORE
MUSCLE INTO IT.
I'M EXCITED.
I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT POLE
TO GO DOWN.
>> GOT TO GET HIM.
>> STEADY CRANK, DON'T PULL UP
ON THE ROD.
>> HANG ON TO HIM, BUDDY.
>> BEND YOUR KNEES.
>> ARE YOU CRAMPING UP YET?
>> 20 FOOTER.
>> HERE HE COMES.
>> I GOT HIM.
>> GOT LIMB, GUYS.
NICE WORK.
NICE WORK.
NICE KING SALMON THERE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>>
>> THAT'S EXCITING.
>> THAT'S WHAT WE CAME FOR.
>> IF WE OPEN IT AGAIN AND
THERE'S ONLY ONE IN THERE --
>> I DON'T WANT TO SAY.
>> ALL RIGHT, GENTLEMEN.
WHO IS GOING TO BE UP NEXT?
>> ME, ME.
>>
>> WELL, SOMEONE TO SLOWLY CRANK
ON THIS.
I CAN'T TELL IN THIS IS SEPARATE
OR -- OR YOU GOT TANGLED.
I WOULD RATHER HAVE YOU GUYS
REEL IT IN LIKE THIS, THAN ME
REEL IN ONE OF YOUR FISH.
>> ALL RIGHT.
COME OVER HERE.
COME AROUND THIS SIDE.
YOU SWITCH OVER TO THERE.
WHEN WE GET THIS ONE IN, JUST
WALK BACK.
>> GOT HIM.
BIG FISH.
>> THERE WE GO.
OH.
>> IT'S A BIG ONE RIGHT THERE.
>> NOISE FISH.
>> YEAH.
>> NICE JOB.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> THAT WAS GREAT.
>> SEE WHAT THE MASTER TAUGHT ME
HOW TO DO HERE.
VERY LUCKY THING, I HELPED YOU
REEL THAT IN.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> OH, YEAH.
>> ALL RIGHT.
NICE WORK, GENTLEMEN, NICE WORK.
>> YOU GUYS ARE HAVING A LOT OF
FUN ARE YOU GOING TO LET ME
CATCH ONE NOW?
>> IT'S UP TO YOU.
WE SHOWED YOU HOW TO DO IT.
>> I TELL YOU WHAT, YOU GUYS ARE
EXPERTS.
>> WE'VE GOT A COUPLE AND
THERE'S NO EXCUSES FOR LOSING
FISH.
>> THERE GOES THE JINX.
>> ALL RIGHT, GUYS.
WHO'S UP HERE?
THERE YOU ARE, DAN.
THERE HE IS.
AND --
>> GOT LIMB IN THE NET THAT.
NICE WORK, GUYS.
GOOD WORK.
>> NICE FISH.
>> WELL, THE FIRST PORTSIDE
FISH, RIGHT?
>> YEAH.
>> OH, YEAH.
DEFINITELY PLENTY OF WEIGHT ON
THERE.
>> STOP REELING.
REEL, REEL.
>> ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK OF
THE BOAT AGAIN, BUDDY.
IT'S A STICK.
IT'S A STICK.
IT'S DEFINITELY NOT A FISH.
DO YOU WANT A PICTURE WITH IT?
>> THERE YOU GO, BUDDY.
STAND THERE.
YOUR BIG CATCH.
>> A BEAUTY.
>> IT'S THE LONGEST.
THE LONGEST.
>> HE'S DEFINITELY GOING TO WIN.
GOOGOL PAY HIM ANOTHER $5.
>> GET HIM, BUDDY.
GO AHEAD, BUDDY.
I GOT THE ROD.
>> THAT'S DEFINITELY NOT A
STICK.
>> HE'S DEFINITELY OUT THERE.
>> HE'S WATCHING RIGHT AT YOUR
EYE LINE.
KEEP THAT ROD TIP.
>> HOLY MOLY, THIS THING IS MAD.
>> WOW.
>> GAIN 20, RIPS OUT 50.
BEST WAY THAT I FOUND, NOT TO
TIRE OUT YOUR LEFT ARM IS TO
KEEP YOUR THUMB UP, SO YOU'RE
NOT SQUEEZING THAT REEL SO TIGHT
OR THE ROD SO TIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO TIRE OUT
YOUR ARM.
>> LOOK AT THE NET HERE.
THAT'S A BIG FISH.
>> RIGHT THERE, BUDDY.
THAT IS A BIG ONE.
>> THAT IS A DOG.
>> THERE'S A GOOD 20 PLUS.
IT'S TOO SMALL.
>> GOOD WORK, BUDDY.
>> WAY TO KEEP REELING ON THAT
THING.
>> SO WHAT WAS IT, 50 A MAN.
>> THAT WOULD BE A LOT.
>> BIGGER THAN THE STICK YOU
CAUGHT.
>> JOSH, A GOOD DAY TODAY, I
THINK.
>> OH, IT WAS A PLEASURE.
BEAUTIFUL MORNING ON THE WATER
OUT THERE, DAN.
>> THANKS FOR TAKING US OUT AND
THANKS FOR SHOWING US A GREAT
TIME.
>> I'M GRAD YOU ENJOYED
YOURSELF.
>> I DID.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU GUYS, DID
YOU HAVE FUN?
>> ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT
BANQUET.
HOPEFULLY I'LL WIN THE TRIP NEXT
YEAR.
>> I HOPE SO AND HOPE YOU BRING
YOUR BUDDIES ALONG, THEY'RE GOOD
LUCK.
>> I THINK SO.
>> THANK YOU FOR FOR A GOOD JOB
ON THE NET AND THE RODS.
>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE GOING OUT,
WE CAUGHT SOME GREAT FISH TODAY,
HAD A GREAT TIME, FEW LAUGHS.
ALL IN ALL, IT WAS A GREAT
MORNING ON THE WATER.
>> ANOTHER GREAT DAY WITH DUMPER
DAN CHARTERS.
>> BOB REMME OF ELM GROVE IN
WAUKESHA COUNTY CAPTURED THIS
PAIR OF KINGFISCHER BIRDS ON THE
POND NEXT TO HIS HOME.
TO EMAIL US A PHOTO OF YOUR
FAVORITE WISCONSIN SCENE, LOG ON
TO WWW.MPTV.ORG AND CLICK ON
"CONTACT US" ON THE LEFT SIDE OF
YOUR SCREEN.
OR YOU CAN POST YOUR PHOTO ON
OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AT "OUTDOOR
WISCONSIN."
BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR NAME,
WHERE YOU LIVE, AND THE COUNTY
WHERE YOUR PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN.
>> THE FIRST START DAY IF JUNE
IS WORLD ATLATL DAY AND I'M OUT
IN ASHFORD, WISCONSIN, WITH A
GROUP OF ATLATL ENTHUSIASTS AND
LANNIE IS PAST PRESIDENT OF THE
WORLD ATLATL ASSOCIATION.
TELL US ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION
FIRST?
>> OK.
THE FIRST ATLATL ASSOCIATION,
DAN, WAS STARTED BACK ABOUT 25
YEARS AGO, TO EDUCATE PEOPLE
ABOUT THE USE OF THE ATLATL AND
HOW IT WAS USED THROUGHOUT THE
AMERICAS, AND ALL OVER THE
WORLD, AS A HUNTING TOOL FOR
ABOUT 18 TO 20,000 YEARS BEFORE
THE ABOVE AND ARROW WAS
DEVELOPED.
-- BOW AND ARROW HAS DEVELOPED.
IT HAS TAKEN OFF FROM THERE AND
NOW THE WORLD ATLATL ASSOCIATION
HAS MEMBERS IN ALL OF THE U.S.,
I WANT TO SAY 20 OF THE STATES
AND THEY HOLD COMPETITIONS
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AT VARIOUS
EVENTS AND DO EDUCATIONAL
DISPLAYS FOR PEOPLE SO THEY CAN
LEARN ABOUT THE ATLATL AND ITS
USE.
>> NOW, THIS IS WORLD ATLATL
DAY, FIRST SATURDAY IN JUNE.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
>> THE WORLD ATLATL CAST WAS
DEVISED -- DAY WAS DEVESTED
ABOUT THREE YEARSAL, SO ON THIS
DAY, ALL OVER THE WORLD, THERE
WILL BE PEOPLE COMPETING WITH
THE USE OF THE ATLATL.
THEY HAVE A STANDARD COMPETITION
SET FOR TEAMS, SO THIS IS A TEAM
EVENT.
EACH GROUP WILL HAVE GROUPS OF
THREE, WHETHER WE'RE IN
WISCONSIN OR ILLINOIS OR IN
OTHER PLACES OF THE U.S. AND
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
AND THEN OUR SCORES WILL BE
MAILED IN, WE CAN SEE HOW OUR
TEAM EVENT HAS DONE COMPARED TO
THE OTHER TEAMS IN THE WORLD.
>> NOW HOW IS IT SCORED?
>> THE SCORING IS DONE ON AN
OFFICIAL ATLATL TARGET THAT WAS
USED FOR ALSO OUR INTERNATIONAL
COMPETITIONS.
AND WE THROW AT A TARGET, AT
DIFFERENT DISTANCES, AT A
SCORING OF 6, 7, 8, 9 AND 10,
DEPENDING ON THE RINGS ON THE
TARGET.
NOW WE THROW AT 10.
EVERYBODY THROWS AT 10.
>> FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE THROWN
UNDER 70 POINTS ON AN
INTERNATIONAL TARGET, THEY WILL
GET TO THROW AT SHORTER
DISTANCES THAN THE PEOPLE THAT
ARE BETTER THROWERS, SO
EVERYBODY IS KIND OF ON AN EVEN
PLAYING FIELD AND EVERYBODY CAN
FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEIR SCORES.
>> NOW, THAT'S 70 BASED ON WHAT,
10 THROWS?
>> YES, THE 70 POINTS IS OUT OF
100 POSSIBLE POINTS.
AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE
THROWN AT 15 AND 20 METERS, THAT
HAVE SCORED AT LEAST 70 OR
BETTER, WILL HAVE TO THROW AT
THEIR LONGER DISTANCES.
THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE
EITHER NEVER THROWN BEFORE OR
HAVE THROWN LESS THAN 70, WILL
BE ABLE TO THROW AT SHORTER
DISTANCES TODAY.
THEY WILL BE THROWING AT A
5-METER, 10 MEET, AND 15-METER
DISTANCES.
THOSE OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE A
HIGHER SCORE WILL BE THROWING AT
5, 10, 15, 20, AND 25 METERS.
>> THE 9, JOE, 7, GLEN, 7, BEN,
10 AND DOUG 10.
>> NOW THIS GROUP HERE, SOME OF
THESE FOLKS ARE MEMBERS OF THE
WISCONSIN GROUP, BUT WHAT IS
YOUR GROUP CALLED?
>> YEAH.
WE ESTABLISHED OUR GROUP, WE ARE
NOW OFFICIALLY CALLED THE
WISCONSIN AFFILIATED SPEAR
THROWERS, AND WE'VE BEEN
TOGETHER FOR ABOUT 15, MAYBE
EVEN MORE AS FAR AS THE YEARS
GOING.
WE HOLD ABOUT 12 COMPETITIONS
THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER IN VARIOUS
PLACES IN WISCONSIN, WE HAVE
ANOTHER COMPETITION NEXT
WEEKEND, OVER AT HENSCHEL'S
INDIAN MUSEUM TO GO WITH THE
BADGER STATE ARCHAEOLOGICAL
SOCIETY.
AND THEN WE'LL HAVE ONE DONE IN
JULY AND THEN WE HAVE SOME
AFFILIATED WITH DIFFERENT
RENDEZVOUSES THROUGHOUT THE
STATE AND OUR LAST EVENT IS
USUALLY IN OCTOBER OVER IN
DUNDEE, WISCONSIN, WHERE WE SET
UP 100 THROWS FOR PEOPLE.
WE TRY TO MAKE IT AT LEAST 100
THROWS THAT DAY.
>> WHERE ELSE IS IT BEING DONE,
HOW MANY COUNTRIES?
>> LAST YEAR, THERE WERE FOUR
COUNTRIES INVOLVED, INCLUDING
CANADA, QUEBEC AND OTHER
COUNTRIES OVER IN EUROPE.
ITALY AND FRANCE.
ARE BIG ATLATL COMPETITIONS AND
11 STATES IN THE U.S. THAT
COMPETED LAST YEAR.
SO THIS YEAR, THERE MIGHT BE
MORE.
WE HAD ABOUT 150 PEOPLE THAT
COMPETED LAST YEAR IN WORLD
ATLATL DAY.
>>
>> THE RED FOX IS A COMMON
MAMMAL THAT LIVES THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN.
YOU CAN FIND FOX TRACKS IN THE
SNOW IN JUST ABOUT ANY FIELD OR
WOODLAND, BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE
PRIMARILY NOCTURNAL, YOU DON'T
OFTEN SEE A FOX ITSELF.
BUT BACK IN 1988, NANCY FRANK
JOINED JEFF ENGEL ON A RAINY DAY
IN WAUKESHA COUNTY FOR A
STAKEOUT OF SORTS, AS THEY SPIED
ON A RED FOX DEN.
>> THE RAIN SEEMS TO BE LETTING
UP, JEFF.
I WONDER IF WE MIGHT HAVE A
BETTER CHANCE AT THE FOX COMING
OUT.
>> WELL, IF THE RAIN EVENTUALLY
STOPS, IT PROBABLY WILL COME OUT
OF THE DEN.
IT'S BEEN RAINING MOST OF THE
MORNING, SO THE DUCKS ARE
PROBABLY PET -- FOX ARE PROBABLY
PRETTY HUNGRY.
YOU GET A CHANCE TO APPRECIATE
NATURE IN ITS OWN ELEMENT AND IT
CREATES A NEW DIMENSION TO
WATCHING WILDLIFE.
>> THIS PARTICULAR DEN, WHEN DID
YOU FIND IT?
>> ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, I WAS
WALKING MY BLACK LAB ALONG THE
EDGE OF THE FIELD AND HAPPENED
TO SEE A MOUND OF DIRT AND I
WENT OVER TO INVESTIGATE IT AND
SAW THAT THERE WERE FRESH FOX
TRACKS AROUND AND I STARTED
COMING BACK EVERY ONCE IN A
WHILE AND PRETTY SOON A YOUNG
FOX APPEARED.
>> HOW MANY YOUNG ARE IN THIS
DEN?
>> FIVE YOUNG FOX IN THIS
PARTICULAR DEN IN FRONT OF US.
MOST DENS HAVE ONE OR TWO MAIN
ENTRANCES,.
THIS PARTICULAR DEN WE'RE
WATCHING HAS FIVE DIFFERENT
ENTRANCES.
THERE ARE TWO MAIN AND THERE ARE
THREE OR FOUR SMALLER HOLES FOR
ESCAPE RESULTS.
>> THOSE ARE IN CASE A PREDATOR
COMES IN.
>> YES.
>> WERE KINDS OF PREDATORS MIGHT
BE A POSSIBILITY FOR A RED FOX.
>> HAWKS AND OWLS WILL
OCCASIONAL FEED ON YOUNG FOX,
BUT MAN ARE THE BIGGEST PREDATOR
OF YOUNG FOX.
THE NORMAL ADULT FOX WILL BE
ABLE TO OUTRUN A DOG ALMOST
EVERY TIME, SO JUST THE YOUNG
ARE IN JEOPARDY.
>> IF YOU HAVE FIVE ENTRANCES,
HAW LARGE IS THE DEN FROM
ENTRANCE TO ENTRANCE?
>> THE DENSE WE'RE WATCHING, THE
TWO MAIN ENTRANCES ARE ABOUT
5 FEET APART, AND ABOUT 15 YARDS
DOWN FROM THERE, THERE ARE OTHER
SMALLER HOLES GOING IN TO THE
GROUND.
>> SO IT'S QUITE AN EXTENSIVE --
>> A GOOD NETWORK OF BULLS, YES.
>> HOW OFTEN DO THEY HALLS THE
OTHER ENTRANCES.
>> NOT VERY OFTEN.
THE ONLY TIME I'VE SEEN THEM
USINGEST ENTRANCES IS WHEN A --
USING THE ENTRANCES IS WHEN A
FEMALE FOX ALERTED THE YOUNG TO
SOME TYPE OF DANGER.
THERE'S WHERE THE PUPS ARE.
>> OH, LOOK AT THAT.
>> THERE ARE TWO OF THE PUPS.
>> THOSE ARE TWO OF THE FIVE
PUPS, YEAH.
IT'S CLEARING OUT AND THE FOX
HAVE HAD ENOUGH SLEEPING FOR THE
MORNING.
>> TIME TO PLAY.
>> TIME TO GET OUT AND STRETCH.
IN A FEW MINUTES, WE'LL HAVE
SEVERAL MORE FOX PUPPIES OUT
THERE.
>> HOW OLD ARE THEY AT THIS
POINT?
>> THEY'RE ABOUT THREE MONTHS
OLD.
>> WHEN PUPS ARE ABOUT THREE
MONTHS OLD, WHAT ARE THEIR
ACT -- THEIR ACTIVITIES LIKE?
>> BOTH OF THE PARENTS SUPPLY
THE FOOD FOR THEM.
THE MAIN DIET IS RABBIT,
INSECTS, BUGS AND MICE, THE MAIN
COMPONENT.
18% OF THEM -- THEY COME OUT
MAINLY IN THE EVENING AT ABOUT
5:00 P.M. UNTIL DARK AND THEY'RE
VERY PLAYFUL TO WATCH.
THEY GO ALL AROUND, AND JUMP AND
BITE EACH OTHER AND IT'S REALLY
AMAZING AND AMUSING TO WATCH
THEM.
>> WHAT IS THE BREEDING SEASON
FOR FOX.
>> WELL, THE FOX BEGIN TO PAIR
UP IN MID JANUARY, AND THEN THEY
START BREEDING ABOUT IN
FEBRUARY.
IT TAKES 51 DAYS FOR THE FOX TO
DEVELOP INSIDE THE FEMALE, AND
THEY'RE BORN SOME TIME IN MARCH.
>> HOW MANY LITTERS DO FOX
GENERALLY HAVE IN ONE YEAR.
>> THE PARENTS GENERALLY ONLY
HAVE ONE LITTER OF PUPS A YEAR
AND THE LITTERS RANGE IN SIZE
FROM TWO TO NINE PUPS.
THE AVERAGE BEING FIVE OR SIX.
>> WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT
THE DIFFERENT AGES AND SIZES OF
FOX.
>> A MATURE ADULT FOX WILL WEIGH
10 POUNDS, BUT THEY HAVE THE
BEAUTIFUL SILK FUR AND MAKES
THEM APPEAR TO BE TWICE THE SIZE
THEY ARE.
THE AVERAGE BUSINESS DOMESTIC
HOUSE CAT IS THE SAME WEIGHT OF
AN AVERAGE FOX.
>> SO THAT WOULD BE 9, 10,
12 POUNDS?
>> ABOUT 10 POUNDS.
>> AND WHAT ABOUT THE
YOUNGSTERS?
>> WELL, WHEN THEY'RE BORN, THEY
WEIGH ONLY 4 OUNCES, SO BORN
VERY, VERY SMALL.
>> THEY'VE GAINED WEIGHT RAPIDLY
THEN.
>> YES, THEY DO.
>> WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT
THEIR PHYSICAL ADAPTATIONS TO
THE ENVIRONMENT LIKE THEIR EYES
OR THEIR FUR?
>> WELL, THE FOX IS THE ONLY
ANIMAL IN THE DOG FAMILY THAT
WILL HAVE ELLIPTICAL SHAPED
EYES.
THE PUPILS ARE ELLIPTICAL,
THEY'LL EXPAND WIDER AND ALLOW
BETTER VISION AND THE FOX HUNTS
MAINLY AT NIGHT.
THEY START HUNTING ABOUT TWO
HOURS BEFORE SUNSET AND GOES
THROUGH TWO HOURS AFTER, AFTER
DAYLIGHT.
BUT NIGHTTIME IS OUR MAIN
FEEDING TIME.
>> NOW, FOX ARE IN WISCONSIN ALL
YEAR-ROUND, SO THEIR FUR MUST BE
AWFULLY THICK.
>> Y. THE PRIMETIME FOR -- YES,
THE PRIME TIME FOR FOX IS
DECEMBER 3 FEBRUARY AND
ESTIMATED THAT IN WISCONSIN WE
HAVE 61,000 FOX AND IT'S KIND OF
INTERESTING, BECAUSE YOU HARDLY
EVER SEE THEM, BUT THERE ARE
QUITE A FEW FOX AROUND.
IN FACT, IF YOU WERE TO WALK IN
A FARMERS FIELD, OR A CORN FIELD
SOME AFTERNOON, AFTER A FRESH
SNOWFALL, YOU WOULD ALMOST
CERTAINLY SEE A FOX TRACK
AROUND.
>> THEY'RE VERY BENEFICIAL TO
FARMERS, AREN'T THEY?
>> WHY YES, THEY EAT ALET OF
INSECTS AND RABBITS.
>> THAT'S A FORM OF MOUSE, IT'S
A BEETLE.
AND IT WAS HUNGRY SO IT ATE IT.
>> CAN'T GET THAT OTHER ONE IN
THE MOOD TO PLAY.
>> IT'S REALLY A CIRCUS WHEN ALL
FIVE OF THEM ARE OUT PLAYING
WITH EACH OTHER.
>> OK.
THE RAIN IS STARTING UP AGAIN
RIGHT NOW.
THE FOX ARE GONE.
THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT DEN
HOLES TO THE RIGHT OF OUR MAJOR
MOVEMENT -- MAJOR HOLE.
>> WELL, THEY WERE TUMBLING.
OK.
NOW IF THE RAIN WOULD STOP AND
COOPERATE.
>> WHAT ARE THEY DOING NOW,
JEFF?
>> RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE GOING
FROM HOLE TO HOLE, BECAUSE IT'S
RAINING OUTSIDE AND THEY WANT TO
COME UP AND SUN THEMSELVES AND
PLAY, BUT THEY DON'T LIKE THE
RAIN, SO THEY'LL COME OUT OF THE
MAIN ENTRANCE HOLE AND GO BACK
IN TO OTHER HOLES, WHICH ARE IN
THE THICK BRUSH BACK THERE.
>> LOOK AT THEM BLAME.
-- AT THEM PLAY.
>> THEY CERTAINLY ENJOY
THEMSELVES.
>> THAT'S THE PARENT.
>> OK.
THAT'S ONE OF THE FOX RIGHT NOW,
JUST HEARD U AND RIGHT THERE, IS
THERE ALARM CALL.
RIGHT NOW SHE'S VERY UNCERTAIN
AS TO WHO WE ARE.
BUT THE WIND IS QUARTERING TO
HER.
NOTICE THE TAIL ON THIS
PARTICULAR FOX, IT'S MUCH
BIGGER.
THIS IS ONE OF THE ADULTS WITH A
PARENT.
>> I SAW THAT LITTLE GUY RUN
AWAY.
SHE'S CONCERNED ABOUT HIM.
>> THAT'S THE ALARM CALL RIGHT
THERE.
>> WHAT SHE WILL DO IS USE THAT
SAME BARK AND TROT LIKE THAT FOR
ABOUT 5 WHO YARDS AROUND THE
ISLAND, SO NO MATTER WHERE THE
PUPS ARE, THEY ALL LURE AROUND
HER TO GET IN THE ONE HOLE.
THE PUPS ARE NOT AS LEERY AS THE
FEMALE, BUT SHE CAME OUT OF THE
HOLE AND ALMOST INSTANTLY SAW US
WATCHING HER.
WHAT'S PLAYING RIGHT NOW, NANCY
IS TO TRY TO CIRCLE AROUND TO
GET A BETTER FEEL OF OUR SCENT.
THEY'LL MAKE A BIG WIDE CIRCLE
AROUND US.
>> JEFF, WILL WE BE WALKING UP
TO THIS FOX DEN?
>> WE COULD, BUT WE SHOULD KEEP
OUR DISTANCE.
WHEN WATCHING A FOX DEN, GREAT
CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN SO WE DON'T
DISTURB THE FOX FAMILY AND THE
YOUNG FOX SHOULD NEVER BE TANK
FROM THE WILD OR HANDLED.
>> THEY DON'T MAKE GOOD PETS.
>> WELL, THEY'RE A TRUE WILD
ANIMAL AND THEY WILL ALWAYS BE
WILD, NO MATTER HOW YOUNG YOU
GET THEM AND THEY'RE BETTER LEFT
OFF RIGHT IN THE WILD.
>> THEY DESERVE TO STAY WILD.
>> YES.
>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS
WEEK'S FEATURES, VISIT
WWW.MPTV.ORG.
YOU CAN ALSO WATCH PAST PROGRAMS
ON OUR WEB SITE, AND YOU CAN
CONTACT US THERE OR ON FACEBOOK
AT "OUTDOOR WISCONSIN."
THE WEEKEND OF FEBRUARY 14-16,
I'LL BE AT THE PHEASANTFEST AT
THE WISCONSIN CENTER IN DOWNTOWN
MILWAUKEE.
I'LL ALSO BE AT THE SOUTHEAST
WISCONSIN FISHING AND HUNTING
EXPO AT THE WASHINGTON COUNTY
FAIRGROUNDS IN WEST BEND.
STOP BY OUR BOOTH AT EITHER SHOW
TO SAY HELLO AND LEARN HOW YOU
MIGHT WIN A HYDROJET CANOE BY
WILDERNESS SCOUT.
>> NEXT TIME, WE'LL CONTINUE OUR
SERIES ON THE ATLATL AS I GET A
THROWING LESSON FROM TWO-TIME
WORLD CHAMPION DOUG MILLER.
AND WE'LL FIRE ANOTHER OLD
WEAPON, ONE OF THE GATLING GUNS
THAT SUPPORTED TEDDY ROOSEVELT
IN THE BATTLE OF SAN JUAN HILL
IN THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR.
I'M DAN SMALL.
JOIN US AGAIN NEXT WEEK FOR
"OUTDOOR WISCONSIN."
♪ FLASH OF A WHITE-TAIL MOVIN'
THROUGH THE PINE ♪
♪ THE LONG VOWEL OF THE OWL IN
THE EVENING ♪
♪ LOON ON THE LAKE, A MUSKIE ON
THE LINE ♪
♪ OUTDOOR WISCONSIN ♪
♪ FREE YOURSELF LIKE AN EAGLE IN
THE AIR ♪
♪ FEED YOURSELF LIKE A BEAR IN
THE BLACKBERRY ♪
♪ LIKE A HAWK, PERCH AND STARE ♪
♪ OUTDOOR WISCONSIN ♪
♪ WHEN THE WORKIN' LIFE IS WAY
TOO MUCH ♪
♪ WHEN YOU'RE IN TOO DEEP AND
WAY OUT OF TOUCH ♪
♪ LACE UP YOUR BOOTS, GET OUT OF
TOWN ♪
♪ TAKE A WALK IN THE WILD OR SIT
DOWN AND LISTEN ♪
♪ LISTEN TO THE SOUNDS OF THE
CRITTERS OF THE NIGHT ♪
♪ TO THE WIND IN THE LEAVES AND
THE LITTLE RIVER RUN ♪
♪ COYOTE BROTHER HOWLIN' IN FULL
MOONLIGHT ♪
♪ OUTDOOR WISCONSIN ♪
♪ HIKE, FISH, HUNT, CAMP, SAIL,
CANOE ♪
♪ SKI, PHOTOGRAPH, LAUGH, DO
WHAT YOU WANT TO ♪
♪ STICK YOUR NOSE WHERE THE WILD
ROSE GROWS ♪
♪ OUTDOOR WISCONSIN ♪
♪ OUTDOOR WISCONSIN ♪♪