Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report

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Fall color now peaking in central Wisconsin

Fall colors (exit DNR) are now peaking in central Wisconsin, and while colors are reported as past peak in north central Wisconsin, they are still at peak in the northeast and northwest. Heavy rains in the last week brought down a lot of leaves across much of the state, but especially in the north.

The rain and fog did put a damper on last weekend’s youth deer hunt, but there were still many reports of successful young hunters. And the leaf drop should be aiding archery deer hunters as well as grouse, partridge and woodcock hunters.

With unseasonably warm temperatures recently, the waterfowl migration has been slow but this past week did see a major flight of northern ducks into the state, including many redheads, scaup, common goldeneye, buffleheads and an initial wave of canvasbacks. Canada goose numbers are slowly picking up with increased numbers at Horicon and Theresa wildlife areas.

The southern zone duck season reopens this Saturday, and with the federal government shutdown, DNR officials have been receiving many inquiries on what areas are open for hunting. While the Horicon and Mississippi national wildlife refuges are closed, the Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area and all state, county and local access points on the Mississippi River and the waters of the Mississippi and all state and local public lands remain open. Additionally, while campground and facilities within the Chequamegon and Nicolet national forests are closed, the forest lands themselves are open.

The rain coupled with some strong winds made for tough fishing conditions in the Northwoods. Musky anglers continue to provide the most fishing pressure and success has continued to be generally good, with most anglers having now switched from artificial baits to live suckers. Walleye haven't settled into a solid fall pattern yet, but there has been a surge in crappie action.

The rain did draw more trout and salmon up Lake Michigan tributaries, with fish reported in the Oconto, Ahnapee, Kewaunee, East and West Twin, Sheboygan and Root rivers. Salmon were also being reported all over Door County with every major marina having some fish inside. Perch fishing has also been good along the bay side of Door County.

The Root River Steelhead Facility had more success this week and has now processed more than 375 fish. The facility will be hosting an open house this Saturday, Oct. 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with guided tours, fish spawning demonstrations, fly casting lessons, knot and fly-tying, and tips for cooking fish.

The Gov. Tommy G. Thompson State Fish Hatchery in Spooner continues its harvest of walleye for stocking in state waters. The hatchery has more than quadrupled production of larger walleye fingerlings under the Wisconsin Walleye Initiative, which aims to stock more larger walleye by expanding production at state hatcheries and at private, tribal and municipal hatcheries.

Lots of other events are also taking place this weekend with the 9th Annual Harvest Moon Festival at the Capital Springs State Recreation Area near Madison on Friday, and on Saturday, Smokey Bear’s Spook-tacular candlelight hike at Peninsula State Park in Door County, and a candlelight hike and astronomy program at Governor Dodge State Park in Iowa County. For a listing search the DNR website for “Get Outdoors.”

Related articles

• Public meetings set for October to discuss Wisconsin Walleye Initiative (family-outdoors.blogspot.com)

Wisconsin DNR Outdoor Report Summary for November 10, 2011

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Wisconsin received its first substantial snowfall of the year, with up to 6 inches of wet heavy snow falling in a swath through the central and north central part of the state Wednesday. 

Lesser amounts fell though south central region, with the far southeast and the northwestern part of the state receiving just a trace of snow. Mornings have been cool enough to create a thin layer of ice across small ponds in the north, which has been melting in warmer afternoon temperatures. Temperatures are forecast to go into the mid 40s to the north and low 50s in the south by the weekend, so snow cover is not expected to last.

The state’s white-tailed deer herd is at or very near the peak of its mating season, known as the rut, and deer activity is very high. With Wisconsin’s traditional nine-day season now just over a week away, many biologists expect hunters will benefit from deer still being in rut when the season opens. Archery deer hunters continue to report very good success.

This week the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources launched a Facebook page and Twitter account. The Facebook page will focus on enjoying Wisconsin’s outdoor recreation. The DNR is encouraging hunters to share photos and stories from the upcoming deer season, as well as fans to share fishing, biking, hiking or other outdoor-related experiences. The page can be found by going to [www.facebook.com\WIDNR]. You can find us on Twitter at [twitter.com/WDNR].

Hunters preparing for this year's deer hunt are also reminded to leave firewood at home. Firewood can harbor pests and diseases that people can easily move with firewood from one place to another without knowing it. Threats to forests also threaten the enjoyment of hunting and countless other recreational activities. Instead of moving firewood, hunters should purchase or harvest it where they plan to use it.

Pheasant hunters have been out in force on the stocked public hunting grounds. Hunters are reminded that the 2 p.m. closure rule for pheasant hunting on certain state wildlife areas expired last week. Pheasant stocking will continue through the week of Dec. 5 on some properties.

Reports from waterfowl hunters indicate there was a significant increase in northern diver ducks moving into the state last week. Due to mild weather, woodcock remained around making for good hunting until the season closed on Nov. 7.

Fishing activity continues to diminish. Water temperatures are now down into the mid to low-40s. Nearly all waterfront property owners have removed docks and boat lifts and most anglers have winterized boats. But there are still musky anglers out, nearly all of which are dragging large suckers at this time of year. Lake Michigan tributaries are running low and fishing pressure has been generally light. While chinook salmon have tapered off, decent numbers of coho have been caught, along with more brown and rainbow trout.

Bald eagles are beginning to congregate, with large numbers spotted on Pool 8 of the Mississippi River and a golden eagle spotted on Pool 9. Eagles area also being seen along the Wisconsin and Fox rivers. Other raptors such as American kestrels, red-tail hawks, harriers, short-eared owls and rough-legged hawks are also being seen. Trumpeter swans are flocking up getting ready to head south and approximately 600 tundra swans migrated to the Horicon Marsh this week.

Related articles

• Wisconsin DNR Outdoor Report Summary for October 13, 2011 (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Wisconsin: Summer is time to plan fall learn-to-hunt outings (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Wisconsin: Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Wisconsin Deer hunters asked to report deer, wildlife observations (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Wisconsin: Antlerless gun deer hunt in CWD zone October 13-16 (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)

Wisconsin DNR Outdoor Report Summary for November 3, 2011

Reports from around the state indicate the white-tailed deer mating season, known as the rut, will likely reach its peak across Wisconsin over the next two weeks or so. Bucks are actively pursuing does even during the day, and conservation wardens continue to report increased vehicle-deer collisions in the last week. Archery hunters are reporting some very good success, with buck deer actively responding to grunt and bleat calls.

Despite some recently colder weather – with the first reports of measurable snow in the north last week – the mild fall still appears to have many activities behind schedule. Waterfowl hunters continued to report wood ducks as far north as Florence County this week. While increasing numbers of diver ducks, such as canvasback, bluebills, buffleheads and ring necks are being seen, mallards, teal and shovelers are still being seen in good numbers. Canada goose numbers at Horicon Marsh have reached about 50,000, still well below peak levels of 200,000 that use the marsh as a stop-over on their southerly migration. Numbers of migrating birds at Horicon Marsh are expected to peak in the next two weeks. The updated Natural Resources monthly page of the DNR website contains a new video with a hint of what birders will see, and online resources steer to birding hot spots for prime viewing.

Grouse hunters are reporting mixed success, with more flushes being reported in some areas than others. There appeared to be another fair movement of woodcock in some areas in the last week. Late season turkey hunters are reporting that some broods are already grouping into winter flocks and are frequenting the harvested fields in the county.

Water temperatures continue to hold in the low 50s to upper 40s on northern lakes, with fewer and fewer anglers venturing out. Musky continue to be the main species of interest and have been providing some fairly consistent action. Musky action has also been good on the Wisconsin River and on Dane County lakes in the south. Walleye fishing has been sporadic on northern lakes, but some good walleye fishing was reported on the Fox, Wolf and Wisconsin rivers.

While the peak of the fall salmon run has come and gone, anglers were still reporting some good numbers on Lake Michigan tributaries, including the Sheboygan, Menomonee and Root rivers. While the number of chinook have decreased, more coho salmon and brown and rainbow trout were being seen. On Green Bay, perch fishing picked up , with nice catches reported off Oconto and Pensaukee along the west shore and off Chaudoir’s Dock on the east shore.

With the opening of Wisconsin’s traditional nine-day gun deer season now just over two weeks away, hunters should be busy preparing, including making sure all firearms are in proper working order and accurately sighted in. Many ranges are now holding extended hours to give hunters extra time to sight-in rifles and get in some extra target practice.

The Deer Hunt 2011 television special with Outdoor Wisconsin host Dan Small will be carried this year by Wisconsin Public Television and Milwaukee Public Television and Fox Sports Wisconsin and Fox Sports North. The show will be broadcast on Milwaukee Public TV: Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 5 at 9 a.m.; on Wisconsin Public TV Digital Wisconsin Channel on Nov. 3 at 8.p.m.; and on Fox Sports North and Fox Sports Wisconsin on Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 12 at 8 a.m.

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• Wisconsin Deer Hunters: Join a healthy hunting discussion with Wisconsin Natural Resources (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
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• Wisconsin DNR Outdoor Report Summary for September 29, 2011 (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
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Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report Correction

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The following information has been corrected in the September 29, 2011 Wisconsin DNR Outdoor Report Summary:

The waterfowl season opened last weekend in the northern and new Mississippi River zones and the duck season will open at 9 a.m. this Saturday in the southern zone. CORRECTION: Shooting hours do not begin until 9 a.m. only in the southern zone. The North and Mississippi River zones are already open and don't have the 9 a.m. restriction (they had it last week). Hunters are reporting conditions were good for the northern opener and they were seeing good wood duck and mallard numbers. Waterfowl are scattered due to good water levels, so ducks aren't nearly as concentrated as they have been in past years. Migrant Canada goose numbers are slowly building up, with some geese concentrated around Theresa Marsh, Horicon Marsh and other large wetland complexes, but most geese are spread out and hunters will need to do some scouting to figure out where the birds are feeding. Mississippi River water levels are below 8 feet in many areas resulting in large shoreline areas and mud flats. Waterfowl hunters in the new Mississippi zone commented on the large areas of "unforgiving mud" opening weekend. Wood ducks were prevalent with occasional flocks of blue winged teal and a few mallards.

Wisconsin DNR Outdoor Report Summary for September 29, 2011

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Fall colors are coming on fast in northern Wisconsin, with several areas reporting colors are approaching peak. The Department of Tourism Fall Color Report (exit DNR). has most of central and even much of southern Wisconsin at near 50 percent color, with peak still two to four weeks off.

The entire state received rain in the last week, with some areas reporting 2 to 3 inches. Strong winds are in the forecast this week, with wind advisories for possible gusts up to 40 miles per hour. The rain and winds could bring down a lot of leaves.

The waterfowl season opened last weekend in the northern and new Mississippi River zones and the duck season will open at 9 a.m. this Saturday in the southern zone. Hunters are reminded that shooting hours do not begin until 9 a.m. in all zones this Saturday. Hunters are reporting conditions were good for the northern opener and they were seeing good wood duck and mallard numbers. Waterfowl are scattered due to good water levels, so ducks aren't nearly as concentrated as they have been in past years. Migrant Canada goose numbers are slowly building up, with some geese concentrated around Theresa Marsh, Horicon Marsh and other large wetland complexes, but most geese are spread out and hunters will need to do some scouting to figure out where the birds are feeding. Mississippi River water levels are below 8 feet in many areas resulting in large shoreline areas and mud flats. Waterfowl hunters in the new Mississippi zone commented on the large areas of "unforgiving mud" opening weekend. Wood ducks were prevalent with occasional flocks of blue winged teal and a few mallards.

Although the white-tailed deer rut, or mating season, is still about a month off, archery hunters are reporting they are already finding some scrapes made by bucks as they stake out territory. One registration station in central Wisconsin reported most bucks registered the first week were still in velvet, but that this week most bucks have polished antlers.

Cooler and windy weather along with hunting activity continued to suppress fishing activity, though some anglers continue to venture out. Bluegill action slowed some on the Mississippi River, but largemouth and small mouth bass fishing has been good to excellent in along with an occasional walleye being caught. Water temperatures are dropping and this transition is helping anglers catch walleyes and sturgeon on the Wisconsin River. Inland trout fishing has been good the last week of the season in both Coulee region streams and in central Wisconsin, where brown trout action has been strong. The inland season closes this Friday, Sept. 30.

Recent rains giving the trout and salmon some much needed help making their way up Lake Michigan tributaries. Chinook and brown trout were being reported up the Manitowoc, East and West Twin, Kewaunee and Sheboygan rivers, and fish were just beginning to move up the southeastern tributaries, with a few reported up Sauk Creek, and the Milwaukee and Root rivers. Strong winds have kept many trollers off the lake, but pier and shore anglers reported some good chinook and brown trout action at many harbors.

Now is the time to start looking for gypsy moth egg masses, which can help predict the pest’s population size and potential damage to trees next year. The yellowish egg masses can be found on tree trunks and the undersides of branches, but they can also be found on buildings, picnic tables, and other outdoor objects. People who find egg masses on their property can spray them with horticultural oil labeled for gypsy moth to help prevent them from hatching next spring.

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Wisconsin Deer Hunters: Join a healthy hunting discussion with Wisconsin Natural Resources

MADISON – The October issue of Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine invites readers to be vocal about what’s important to them.

The cover story, When gaggles meet giggles, takes a look at a goose banding operation at Horicon Marsh that is highly dependant on volunteer determination. Data collected from bands of harvested geese help state and federal agencies set hunting seasons and daily harvest limits.

October Wisconsin Natural Resources

A feature, Let’s talk hunting, invites readers to engage in a dialogue about one of Wisconsin’s greatest traditions. Hunters and nonhunters alike need to put aside their differences to ensure that the public has the opportunity to not only hunt and fish, but to hike and watch wildlife. Find out if the term “eco redneck” fits you. A companion feature, Locavore, meet hunter, shows how hunter recruitment is taking a new turn to connect young adults with the source of their food.

A gift that spawns Great Lakes fisheries follows the legacy of Bayfield pioneer R.D. Pike. A founding father of the City of Bayfield, Pike gave his family homestead containing rare coastal wetlands along the shoreline of Lake Superior and his private fish hatchery on Pikes Creek to the State of Wisconsin.

Wildness incarnate documents the sandhill crane conservation success story. Photos show the cranes engaged in a courtship ritual, painting their feathers to camouflage themselves and gathering in staging areas by the several thousand. Link to a video of cranes dancing and hear a podcast of their calls.

Paying attention to composition is key advice for taking excellent photos in the field. Hunting for outdoor photo hints challenges photographers to fill the frame and get out and practice.

Finally, Creature Comforts confronts a formidable flea problem and Traveler offers advice for finding autumn festival fare from apples and cranberries to giant pumpkins.

Remember to consider the magazine as a thoughtful, inexpensive gift that can share what you value about the outdoors with family, friends and professional colleagues. Six colorful issues are delivered to reader’s doors all year for less than $1.50 a copy. Year-round the magazine shares ways and place to enjoy the Wisconsin outdoors for only $8.97. Subscribe toll-free at 1-800-678-9472, online at www.wnrmag.com or by mail. Subscription blanks and single issues are also available from our circulation office at P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Natasha Kassulke, editorial, at (608) 261-8446 or Karen Ecklund, circulation editor, at (608) 267-7410.

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Wisconsin Hunters: Outdoor Report as of September 8, 2011

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The pleasant late summer weather that prevailed across the northern part of the state made for some very good fishing conditions. Musky continued to provide very consistent action and most musky anglers are reporting a lot of sightings and follows. Bass fishing -- for both largemouth and smallmouth -- is just starting to become erratic, with smallmouth fishing showing the most consistency on the rivers and flowages. Walleye fishing continues to be fair, with a few more anglers starting to target walleye. Panfish action continued to be good with bluegill, crappie and rock bass all providing success.

In the south, walleye fishing has been excellent below dams on the Rock River. Limits of catfish were also being reported on various sections of the Rock. Smallmouth bass fishing has been good on the Lower Wisconsin River and on some Rock and Jefferson county lakes. Water levels continue to drop on the Mississippi River and are nearing normal low water levels for September. The level at Cassville was 7.8 feet this week. Bluegills were biting throughout both Mississippi River pools 10 and 11. Bass anglers noted good numbers of smaller 10- to 12-inch fish with few over 14 inches. Walleye and sauger anglers were trolling wing dams with some success.

The sturgeon season opened this weekend and good numbers of sturgeon were caught below the Prairie du Sac dam, including a 63-inch sturgeon that was kept and several 50-plus-inch sturgeon released. Initial success on northern rivers was fair, with good numbers of sub-legal fish caught, but legal-size 60-inch sturgeon hard to come by.

On Green Bay, anglers off Oconto continue to report good catches of perch and walleye. Perch fishing was good off Door County at Little Sturgeon Bay and Chaudoir’s dock. Along Lake Michigan, most tributaries are running low and fall salmon and trout runs have not begun. Many trollers were working closer to harbors, with chinook salmon making up most of the catch, but also brown and rainbow trout and some coho.

Early Canada goose and mourning dove hunters were greeted with very warm conditions for the opener last week, but conditions have improved after the recent cool down. Some hunters had early success, but are now finding it difficult to locate geese due to standing crops and geese taking refuge in towns and in the federal refuges Dove hunters have had good success over sunflower fields on the public hunting grounds in the south.

There have been increasing reports of whitetail bucks rubbing velvet from their antlers from archery hunters out scouting before their opener Sept. 17. Many fawns are losing their spots and getting adult coats.

The slow but steady southward raptor migration has begun, with numerous red-tailed hawks, broad-winged hawks, and kestrels being seen moving along the Mississippi River. A variety of ducks have been gathering on Horicon Marsh, with thousands of mallards, blue-winged teal and wood ducks feeding on the north end of Horicon Marsh. Several hundred great egrets were also seen on the marsh last week.

Just a few maple and birch leaves have begun to turn in the north. Walnut and oak trees have begun dropping nuts, and the white oak family that also includes bur and swamp oaks are producing a tremendous acorn crop this year.