Category Archives: Lifestyle/Hunting

DNR Wardens Add AEDs

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Rural Marathon County Call Puts AED Into Action

An article from WWA’s Words From The Wardens.

This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s December, 2024 eNewsletter. 

By DNR Conservation Warden Kyle Ziembo

When I received an automated external defibrillator (AED) for my Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conservation warden truck, I did not expect to use it, as my service territory in Marathon County is fortunate to have full-time emergency medical response teams.

My warden teammates and the other DNR wardens statewide completed the training to use these life-saving devices when a person’s heart stops. As we all know, a fast response is critical for the person suffering cardiac arrest.

When I found a place to store it in my truck in mid-April, I assumed it would likely become a fixture that might turn into a shelf.

Lt. Lockman

I was wrong. Two weeks later, in early May, I was on patrol at a Marathon County boat landing with my supervisor, Lt. Bryan Lockman. That’s when we heard the radio transmission of a man experiencing suspected cardiac arrest.

We knew we were about 10 minutes from the emergency call location and likely the closest law enforcement unit. We pointed our truck south and immediately headed for the address.

When we arrived, the man’s wife, a trained nurse, was performing CPR to revive him. We got our AED and raced to the man’s side as he was down in the yard. He had no pulse and was not breathing. We attached the AED and followed the instructions on when to apply a shock to the heart and when to continue the CPR.

It was about 20 minutes since the man’s collapse when the emergency medical service team arrived and took over the treatment. A pulse was felt as he drifted into consciousness and was placed in the ambulance.

The story’s purpose is not to cast us as heroes but to detail how all the wardens have AEDs in their trucks, another public service we can perform if an emergency arrives.

Marathon County is a gorgeous county with vibrant urban areas. However, it also has some remote, rural areas where your conservation wardens may be able to help if a person’s life is on the line.

The Wisconsin conservation wardens are all about public service and helping where we can and in the best way possible.

Deputy Chief O’Brien

I’d like to finish my column with a quote from my Deputy Chief Matt O’Brien.

“This statewide AED deployment is about extending the public safety umbrella into some of Wisconsin’s most remote areas, including our forests, lakes, marshes, wilderness areas and recreation trails. By having adequately equipped and trained responders across Wisconsin’s landscape, the warden service is helping to supplement local resources by delivering time-sensitive defibrillation throughout the state’s landscape.

“Wisconsin’s conservation wardens are dedicated to providing safety and emergency assistance to citizens and visitors as they recreate; this AED deployment improves the likelihood of positive outcomes, regardless of where a dangerous cardiac event strikes.”

George F. Shrake – Lake Poygan Decoy Carver

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A Decoy Corner Article

By Bruce Urben, WWA President

All photos courtesy the author

George Shrake Bluebill

There have been quite a few great decoy carvers that nave lived on or near Lake Poygan, which lies in Waushara and Winnebago counties in Wisconsin. Poygan is a waterfowler’s lake, part of the Winnebago chain just north and west of Little Lake Butte des Morts and the City of Oshkosh. Poygan, with its shallow depth and emergent vegetation, is a stopover rest spot for migrating waterfowl. Wild rice and wild celery were historically found in Poygan but have since been all but eliminated. The village of Tustin is one town on the northwest end of Lake Poygan that was home to several great carvers – George Shrake and August Moak.

George F. Shrake was born in 1906 and grew up hunting, fishing and trapping on Lake Poygan. In the 1930’s, George purchased several decoys from August Moak, his neighbor in Tustin. George used these decoys as patterns to make his own hunting rig of decoys. A year later George had assembled a large rig of decoys for his own use on Poygan. He carved mainly bluebill and canvasback; very few other species are known to have been carved by Shrake.

George began using cedar to fashion his bodies, and basswood or pine for his heads. His decoys were all hollowed and he used glass eyes in the heads. As you might guess, George’s decoys closely resembled Gus Moak decoys and have many times been confused with Moak’s work. One identifying feature is the method of attaching the head on Shrake’s decoys. George used a wood dowel extending through the top of the head, while Moak used a double threaded screw from inside the body to connect his heads.

Shrake also took less time in smoothing the bodies on his decoys. All are much rougher than Moak’s and show clear rasp marks. George’s painting was very similar to Moak’s, oil paint with simple realistic patterns and little shading. Many of George’s bluebill decoys have flattened eye pockets rather than eye grooves and his bodies were carved with a noticeable hump back, again much like Moak.

The bottom of the author’s George Shrake Bluebill was originally mistaken for a Gus Moak decoy

Very seldom will you see a signed or labeled decoy by Shrake. Later in George’s career he carved a number of decoys with a balsa body, which was more available after WWII.

George’s total decoy output was quite small, estimated to be less than 100 decoys. As you might expect, collectors highly value Shrake decoys. Identification is the key to differentiating a Shrake from a Moak, which many times comes down to an X-ray to confirm the head attachment.

George passed away in 1986 at the age of 80 while living in Waushara County near his childhood home.

I am honored to have one of George’s early humpback bluebills… and yes, this one was originally misidentified as a Gus Moak!

Your 2025 Wisconsin Duck Stamp

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The 2025 Wisconsin Duck Stamp

In late August, at the Waterfowl Hunters EXPO, next year’s duck stamp art was selected by a panel of judges.  This contest is run under the auspices of the DNR, and we are fortunate to add the selection to the EXPO’s list of activities..  Artist Jon Rickaby’s  swimming Wood Duck pair was chosen chosen to grace the stamp in 2025.  This is Jon’s third time to win the state duck stamp contest hosted for the past four year’s at the EXPO.    Jon is non-denominational when it comes to stamp art—he’s also won the pheasant stamp (twice!) and inland trout stamp.

The State Waterfowl Stamp program generates millions of dollars for habitat restoration that is important to waterfowl.  WWA received some funding every biennium for the public and private land restorations undertaken by our team of ecologists. Here’s an article we published five years ago that summarizes 35 years of WWA’s duck stamp funding accomplishments.

Charlie Corbin – A Bay of Green Bay Waterfowler, Decoy Carver and Boat Maker

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A Decoy Corner Article

By Bruce Urben, WWA President

All photos courtesy the author

The Bay of Green Bay is located on the northwest side of Lake Michigan. Major tributaries to Lake Michigan, including the Fox, Oconto, Peshtigo and Menominee Rivers, all flow into Green Bay. Green Bay is a relatively shallow arm of Lake Michigan and it has been, and continues to be, a highly productive waterfowl area, a historic waterfowl breeding area and a stop-over spot for migrating waterfowl.

This article is about another of the many Bay of Green Bay decoy carvers from the turn of the century.

Charles Corbin was born in 1872 and was married to his wife, Maggie, in the early 1900’s. Corbin was a passionate and avid waterfowler on the Bay, as was his wife, who accompanied him on many hunts. The Corbins had a hunting cabin near the mouth of the Suamico River, about 15 miles north of the City of Green Bay. His cabin was located near the present day location of the Barkhausen Wildlife preserve. Louis Barkhausen was a local industrialist, avid waterfowler and early supporter of Ducks Unlimited nationally.

Charlie Corbin retired from his job as a saw tooth filer for the J.L. Lumber Co. sawmill in Menominee, Michigan. In retirement, Charlie was able to continue his passion of waterfowling on Green Bay. In the early 1900’s, Charles began to carve his own decoys and later in the 1920’s he began selling his decoys to local “sports”. In addition to decoy carving Charlie was known for making quality boats and skiffs.

Charlie’s decoys were typical of those used on the Bay of Green Bay. Large bodied, solid and hollow decoys with high heads that rode the rough waters of the Bay extremely well. All of his decoys were carved of wood harvested locally. They had glass eyes and his bodies were carved in two pieces with the seam well above the waterline. His heads had some detail carving and most had carved separation of the of the bill from the head. He used a simple paint scheme with quality oil paint that was specific to the species.

No one seems to know the number of decoys that Charlie carved, but it is known that his favorite species were all divers, including canvasbacks, buffleheads, redheads and bluebills.

Charlie Corbin, another original decoy carver and waterfowler who made his living on the Bay of Green Bay after retirement. Charlie passed away at the age of 84 in 1956.

Farmers And Hunters: Don’t Get Caught in Bypassed Crop Fields Tilled Into Illegal Bait

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An article from WWA’s Words From The Wardens.

This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s November, 2024 eNewsletter. 

By DNR Warden Nicholas Hefter

A traditional agricultural practice of prepping fields for the next growing season may look like a buffet for hundreds of hungry migratory birds traveling overhead and potential violations for waterfowl hunters taking aim from below.

Why the potential violations? Because such plowed or tilled fields may be legally viewed as baited and, therefore, off-limits for legal hunting.

However, not all fields of meals are off-limits to waterfowl hunters. For example, fields with standing dry corn stalks or other brittle-looking crops left untouched from their growing seasons are legal to hunt. Also, normal post-harvest manipulation is also legal to hunt. It’s all about manipulation of the fields before versus after the harvest.

If you are scratching your head about now, I understand.

The federal and state regulations address post-harvest manipulation. The regulations are connected to what farmers refer to as ‘bypassing’ or ‘a pass-over’ and is seen regularly in central Wisconsin counties where I serve on the Wisconsin River Team.

Travel through the central Wisconsin area and you’ll see canning companies. These companies pay area farmers to grow certain crops for canning products. Once companies get enough of the crop from farmers, the remaining crops are left on the fields. Farmers call it bypass because it means the company is bypassing taking the crop from the fields.

The farmers then perform a common ag practice which is to plow or till or disc the field, returning the crop into the soil. The federal and state laws define this practice of returning the crop into the soil as manipulation.

These manipulated fields will attract thousands of migratory birds, including ducks and geese, that will eat the crop after it’s been returned to the soil. By definition, that field is now a baited area when it comes to hunting waterfowl – and doing so is illegal in all Wisconsin counties.

Conversely, a post-harvest manipulation is when the crop was fully harvested before the field is worked. A field like that is legal to hunt.

What about flooding a field? You can waterfowl hunt a flooded field, but hunters should ensure they know how it’s been managed. The minute the crop is plowed into the ground, that field transforms into a baited field and is subsequently illegal to hunt waterfowl over.

One final note: The law only deals with migratory waterfowl. The federal law is Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 20.21(i). The state version is under NR10.12(1)(h). It applies to ducks, geese, swans, coots and cranes.

As you prep for your waterfowl hunting, take the time to review the federal and state regulations. Another best practice is to ensure the status of the property you’d like to do your waterfowl hunting on and the federal and state regulations that would apply.

Know before you go and have fun in our great Wisconsin outdoors.

Stopping Aquatic Invasive Species Requires a Team Effort for Wisconsin’s Benefit

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An article from WWA’s Words From The Wardens.

This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s October, 2024 eNewsletter. 

By DNR Conservation Warden Thomas Heisler

One of the priorities shared by DNR conservation wardens and the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association is to maintain healthy aquatic habitats for waterfowl and all species.

A genuinely effective way to support thriving waters is to ask everyone to do their part in stopping the spread of aquatic invasive species. A few simple steps go a long way in this worthwhile battle against these aggressive and dangerous invaders. The damage they inflict on our environment is serious.

The sad fact is we must acknowledge that there are invasives in some of our waters. The more popular the waterbody – the greater chance for a visitor to spread the species. But this is not a lost cause.

How do they spread? Accidental and Intentional

Decoys with lake weeds

Invasive species often outcompete native fish and plants, which provide habitat and food for native aquatic species.  They also can carry parasites, disease and bacteria, impacting water quality. And if that’s not enough, some of these pests also can clog water system infrastructure and can even make a beach impossible to walk on.

The main way aquatic invasive species, such as zebra mussels and Eurasian watermilfoil, spread to new waters is often by hitching a ride on the boats, fishing equipment, hunting equipment and trailers of the same people who enjoy the water the most.

Some of the aquatic invasive plants and animals are introduced into lakes and streams accidentally and, sadly, sometimes intentionally.

But the good news is we can all work together to keep their spread to a minimum.

Stop Them in Their Watery Tracks

Warden Heisler checks weeds on trailer

The good news is it doesn’t have to be hard or burdensome. Here are some ideas:

  • Recreational boaters, waterfowl hunters and people who fish are encouraged to inspect their boats and equipment,  removing all weeds and draining all water sources.
  • All users should check their waders, skies, ski ropes, tubes, boat anchors, mechanical anchors, fish baskets, gas and electric motor propellers, boat trailer (bunks, wheel wells, leaf springs, trailer lights etc.), inside the bottom of kayaks/canoes, paddles, push poles, decoys and decoy ropes.
  • Let your imagination go. Think outside of the box and check anywhere and everywhere even the tiniest piece of aquatic vegetation or animal could hide to hitch a ride to another water body.
  • Drain water from live-wells and empty water from bait buckets if the water came from the lake you were on.
  • Never move live species away from a launch.
  • Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash.

Easy To Miss Places Where Invaders Hide

Some of the most common places wardens have found aquatic weeds are the places many of us overlook. These are the props of the electric and gas motors, decoy anchor lines, leaf springs on trailers and inside the bottom of canoes and kayaks.

Fish and waterfowl associate with aquatic plants for food and cover, which draws waterfowl hunters and fishers to the weeds with boats, kayaks and canoes.

Here’s how to handle these areas where significant amounts of weeds and weed particles:

Check in the bottom of the boats/canoes/kayaks while paddling, lifting decoys, anchors and pulling weeds off fishing lines.

  • Water inside those vessels can move the weeds further to the back and under seats and other nooks and crannies.
  • When at the landing, before loading canoes/kayaks, flip them over and drain all the water out  and search all areas for aquatic weeds and animals.

To learn more about the invasive species, go to dnr.wi.gov and search: aquatic invasive species. Reach me at or  (715) 492-4240

 

Joe Artin – Oshkosh Decoy Carver, Entrepreneur and Local Hero

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A Decoy Corner Article

By Bruce Urben, WWA President

All photos courtesy Wisconsin Sporting Collectibles

Joe Artin Bluebill

Many of our vintage decoy carvers from the early 1900’s have immigrant beginnings – leaving their home country to leave behind political strife and looking for a better life for their families. This carver is another one of those who began his journey in Czechoslovakia and ended up in Oshkosh, WI.

Joe Artin was born in Czechoslovakia in 1903 and his family immigrated to Oshkosh, looking for a better job in the booming lumber industry. By the age of 17, Artin was carving decoys for his use on the Winnebago lakes, including Butte des Mortes and Poygan. Waterfowl was plentiful and was great table fare for the family. He began carving canvasback, mallard, teal and coot decoys as those species were abundant for harvest.

Artin Canvasback

Joe worked for the Paine Lumber Company in Oshkosh until moving to Milwaukee to find a better job. He often returned to his youth home in Oshkosh to hunt his hallowed Winnebago lakes!

Joe began carving all of his decoys by hand using draw knives, spokeshaves, hand knives and files. When he moved to Milwaukee he was able to acquire a duplicating lathe, where he began carving large numbers of decoys. There was a large need for decoys during the market hunting days before 1930.

Artin’s decoys had an un-sanded surface and his paint patterns were considered simple, but very lifelike. The majority of his birds were carved of cedar, with a limited number of balsa bodies. Salvaged balsa was readily available after World War I. Joe acquired a stamp after he moved to Milwaukee and stamped the bottom of his decoys “Artin Decoy Co.”. In the 1930’s and early 1940’s he sold his decoys in local sporting good shops in Oshkosh and Milwaukee.

According to records, Joe’s total output of decoys was over 1200 and he continued to carve into the late 1980’s. His later decoys included teal, wood duck, loons and Canadian Geese.

Artin Bluebill

Joe returned routinely to hunt and fish the Winnebago lakes each fall. History reports that Joe was instrumental in rescuing two duck hunters in Lake Butte des Mortes during the famous Armistice Day storm in November, 1940. Aside from a passionate waterfowler, Joe was also a local hero.

Joe carved decoys right up to the day he died in January of 1990 at the age of 87. As you would expect, Joe’s decoys are highly sought after by Wisconsin collectors. There are still Joe Artin decoys surfacing at flea markets, antique shops, gun shows and local decoy shows. Who knows where that next Artin decoy will be found?

Joe Artin was another Wisconsin original decoy carver, entrepreneur, sportsman and local hero. A classic carver with a local twist.