Long Spurs believe landowner appreciation is important to continued quality hunting

By Correne Martin

For 27 years, the Bluff Country Long Spurs have hosted Landowners Appreciation Day in Prairie du Chien the Sunday after Father’s Day. It’s one of five events of its kind held across the state to say thank you to private property owners for allowing hunters to utilize their fields and wooded areas without charge.

“It’s one of those great days. The landowners say they appreciate it,” said Bob Ziel, the chapter’s appreciation day chair. “They don’t see each other through the year so it’s a chance to sit and talk.”

The first year, in 1990, there were 150 people and, at one point, the occasion drew just shy of 600 people. Yet, in more recent years, about 240 landowners and family members have attended the local gathering.

In the early years, Landowners Appreciation Day took place at LaRiviere Park before it outgrew that location and moved to the Jaycees’ shelter on St. Feriole Island. Around six years ago, the meal and day of fun changed sites again, going to Lochner Park. Ziel said Lochner works out better as it provides shade trees and a playground area for the families.

Over the years, Coaches Restaurant and now Huckleberry’s Restaurant have catered the meal of fried chicken, cole slaw and other fixin’s, which costs the Bluff Country Long Spurs $2.30 a plate. Ziel said that price point is practical, as the chapter and the state National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) fund cover expenses, including beverages. Hunter donations and raffle purchases are also used toward the meal and activities that day.

Aside from socialization for the adults, there’s plenty of action for the young ones attending. The chapter coordinates a sawdust coin dig, which has been popular among the kids, and some other minimal entertainment.

Most of those attending appreciation day are from close-by communities, yet there are some, each year, who travel several hours to Prairie du Chien for various reasons.

Ziel said the day is an important one for the continuation of quality and successful hunting in Wisconsin.

“Most of the landowners open their whole property to hunters. They’re all pretty good; if you ask (to hunt on their land), they’ll let you,” Ziel said, noting that such hunting includes turkey, deer, squirrel and more.

In addition to Landowners Appreciation Day, the Long Spurs support 4-H shooting sports, archery in area schools, scholarships, roadside pick-up and a yearly banquet.

They also organize a JAKES Day in September. JAKES represents juniors acquiring knowledge, ethics and sportsmanship, and this event exemplifies that by allowing youth a free day at the rifle range shooting archery, .22 and clay shooting targets, Ziel noted.

There’s also a learn-to-hunt weekend through which young or new outdoorsmen take a hunter safety course, learn gun safety and other lessons pertaining to turkey hunting.

“Last year, we had 12-13 participants, but that number varies,” Ziel said. “We have somewhere around 22 mentors.”

Anyone interested in learning more about the Bluff Country Long Spurs chapter of the NWTF can contact Bob Ziel at 326-4897, Matt Davis, president, at 326-7656, or Mike Skaife at (608) 988-2778.

The chapter is celebrating 30 years in 2017. In that time, there have been only four presidents: Jim Gehrde, Skaife, Ziel and Davis. Presently, there are about 10 core members from both Crawford and Grant counties.

“We’re always accepting new members,” Ziel added. “We’re open to anyone looking to help keep that interest alive for hunters in our communities.”

To keep up with what’s happening with the chapter, find Bluff Country Long Spurs on Facebook.