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Much of northern Wisconsin was blanketed by a moderate to heavy snowfall last weekend, but snow depths varied greatly. Southeastern Marinette County had no snow, while the northeastern portion of the county received 5 inches. The heaviest snowfall was in Iron County were a foot of snow was reported. Snow levels drop off rapidly through central Wisconsin, with only 3 inches in Wausau and no snow in Stevens Point.
The snow fell just as northern lakes were freezing over, with most lakes having only 1 to 3 inches of ice. This can create hazardous situations, as the snow insulates the lake from colder night temperatures and slows ice formation. Some ice anglers have been venturing out, but there were at least three reports of people and one report of a snowmobile falling through the ice this week. Anglers who do venture out should wear life jackets, carry a spud to check ice depths regularly, have a set of ice picks connected by rope worn outside their jackets that can be reached in case they do fall through the ice, and put cell phones in a water tight bags.
Those anglers venturing out were reporting some early action for bluegill, and limited action for walleye. Some open water anglers remain out on southern lakes, with good walleye and musky action reported in Dane County and some very good brown and rainbow trout action on Lake Michigan tributaries.
Some snowmobile clubs in areas that received enough snow have begun to groom trails, but only Iron County is reporting some snowmobile trails open at this time on the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR). Snowmobilers should stay off trails that are closed even if they have been groomed, as clubs are working hard to build up a snow base and using them before they are open can hurt those efforts, and result in fines up to $250. A few parks have also begun to roll cross-country ski trails, but conditions are marginal and rock skis are recommended for anyone venturing out.
A four-day antlerless only gun deer hunt opens statewide today and runs through Sunday, Dec. 11. All hunters are reminded that blaze orange clothing requirements are in place whenever any gun deer season is open. The hunt in regular units is only open to hunters with a valid antlerless deer tag for the unit in which they are hunting. Regular unit antlerless tags are still available for many units at $12 each. In heard control units, hunters can use their unused herd control tag and purchase as many $2 antlerless tags as they wish. Snow cover in the north greatly improved hunting conditions for muzzleloader hunters during the season that ended Dec. 7, and should provide excellent conditions for the antlerless hunt.
The southern zone duck season closed last weekend, but late season hunters reported fairly good success with more diver ducks moving into the state with last week’s cold front. The exterior goose season closes in the northern zone Dec. 9 and in the southern zone Dec. 14. Very large numbers of geese continue to be reported in the marshes and farm fields of southern Wisconsin.
A few sandhill cranes have still been heard but most have now migrated south. Ice up on the backwaters of the Mississippi and Wisconsin rives has begun to move canvasback and swans farther south. And reports continue to come in from across Wisconsin of snowy owls being seen, with nearly 50 individuals reported, with possibly hundreds in the state. These periodic irruptions often coincide with crashes in lemming populations in the Arctic, which force the birds south to find food. Please observe owls from a distance and do not disturb these visitors, as some are already under stress from their sojourns south in search of prey.
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