Former Eau Claire Leader-Telegram writer Dave Carlson will be inducted into the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame in an April 5 ceremony, according to a March 24 story appearing in the Antigo Daily Journal.
The WCHF’s induction ceremonies will be held virtually and available to watch at https://wchf. org/2025-induction-events/ . Carlson is scheduled to be inducted at 4 p.m. , preceded at 2 p.m. by the induction of J. Baird Callicott, 83, a professor of environmental ethics and philosophy at UW-Stevens Point. Carlson’s induction will be followed by a 6 p.m. ceremony to induct Robert Freckmann, 85, a retired biology professor and namesake of the Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium at UW-SP.
The 78-year-old Carlson began his journalism career in the Marine Corps from 1969-71, including a tour in Vietnam. After leaving the Marines, Carlson earned a journalism degree at UW-Eau Claire, and then worked as outdoors editor at the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram newspaper through 1980.
Carlson then turned to broadcasting, hiring on with WEAU-TV in Eau Claire to host the “Northland Journal,” and producing more than 1,100 episodes while reporting across the country from 1981- 2000. When Northland Journal ended, he went to WQOW-TV and launched “Northland Adventures,” which ran through November 2013.
Carlson retired a month later. After retiring from TV, Carlson continued breaking news through articles for the Wisconsin Outdoor News, while also taking time for radio interviews, and advice for fellow journalists and newcomers.
Journalists preceding Carlson who were inducted into the WCHF include newspaper writers Gordon MacQuarrie (1998), Jay Reed (2014), and Don L. Johnson (2019). Carlson is the first journalist to be inducted from outside of Milwaukee’s media market.
