Manitowoc outdoors news: Get ready for Woodland Dunes' annual Candelight Night

Bob Schuh

For USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

Stimulate your evening senses and experience winter in a beautiful golden glow at Woodland Dunes on from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 1.

“Candlelight Night is a great way to get families, friends and couples outdoors experiencing the wonder of nature in a candle’s glow," said Jessica Johnsrud, Candlelight Night coordinator. “Winter evenings have beautiful gifts to offer.”

Guests will enjoy an evening stroll (or snowshoeing) along a candlelit trail, hot beverages in the Nature Center and live music.

Weather-permitting, astronomy experts will also be on hand to teach people about the fascinating winter sky constellations. There will also be an outdoor bonfire for socializing and gourmet s'more making.

Candlelight Night is one of Woodland Dunes’ most popular outdoor programs, perfect for families, friends of nature or even a romantic date night. Fee for members is $15 per family or $5 per individual, and fee for non-members is $20 per family or $8 per individual.

For more information, visit www.woodlanddunes.org/candlelight-night/ or call the Nature Center at 920-793-4007.

• Reedsville Sportsmen’s Club will hold its 16th Annual Rabbit Hunt and Pig Roast on Jan. 11. Even if you don’t hunt, come on out and enjoy some good food and the fun of talking with the participants. Call Gerald at 920-901-3907 for more information. Reedsville Sportsmen’s Club is 2 miles north of Reedsville on Pleasantview Road.

• Mishicot Sportsmen’s Club, 13804 Jambo Creek Road, just west of Mishicot off State 147, will hold its statewide fishing derby on Jan. 25 and 26.

Fish categories include bluegill, crappie, bass, northern pike, perch, rainbow trout, brown trout, walleye and whitefish. Entry fee is $5 per fisherman with a 100% payout and all state waters can be fished.

Fish must be registered at the Mishicot clubhouse and entry registration ticket must be purchased prior to fishing and presented when registering any fish.

Derby tickets are available at Klein’s Hardware Hank, Crow Bar, Popp’s Harbor Town, Fat Boyz II and Mishicot Country Store.

The clubhouse will be open Friday night and Saturday and Sunday mornings at 7 a.m. with food and refreshments available all weekend. Fish registration ends at 4 p.m. Sunday with prizes and raffle drawings to follow. Questions can be directed to Dave at 920-901-9229 or Larry at 920-323-9025.

• Camp Sinawa will have an old-fashioned winter fun day on Jan. 26.

You can cross country ski, snowshoe, ice skate, sled or even try your hand at ice fishing. Weather permitting, of course.

The warming hut will be open, and there will be snacks and hot drinks for sale. Take bring your own equipment to use. Admission is free.

Contact Felicia at 920-323-3300 if you would like to help out or have winter sports equipment you could loan for the event.

Also, mark your calendars for Feb. 16, as Camp Sinawa will be sponsoring a chili cook-off in Fogle Hall. To enter, call LuAnn at 920-905-4882. If you don’t plan to compete, at least plan to eat and vote for your favorite. Details are being finalized, so keep an eye on either their Facebook page or website for additional information.

• Reedsville Sportsmen’s Club is starting its 2020 winter archery league on Jan. 14 and 16 from 6 to 9 p.m.

The leagues consist of 25- and 40-yard ranges. All leagues will be shot on the same night. The league runs for 10 weeks.

The fees for the league are $50 for adults and $25 for junior shooters.

This will be a fun league with no trophies awarded. At the end of the league, there will be a party with lunch and refreshments. If you can’t make it one week, you can shoot a week ahead, or if you miss a week, you can make it up the next week.

For more information, call John at 920-754-4527.

• Ice conditions are not good at all, especially on big waters like Lake Winnebago and the Bay of Green Bay.

Several times within the last week-and-a-half, ice was broken up by high winds and huge ice shoves pushed ashore on both Winnebago and the bay. It will be quite some time yet before ice conditions will be good enough for the outdoorsmen to be relatively safe.

There is no such thing as completely safe ice, as so many factors like currents and springs can have thin ice when a few yards away it can be thick enough for walking or even ATV use.

Make sure when traversing ice to go in groups so you can help each other out in case someone should break through. Have a life jacket, ice picks and rope ready to use in case of emergency.

Your best defense against unexpectedly going through ice is just using common sense. As I am writing this, the forecast is for temps to reach the 30s and even a 40 or so reading is possible.

That’s it for this week, so have fun in the great outdoors.

Bob Schuh: 920-682-3106 or bobschuh@lsol.net

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