Wisconsin Outdoor Report 7/22/2016

Smallmouth Bass 

Extremely warm weather is blanketing much of the state

As we move toward the weekend, extremely warm weather is blanketing much of the state. Thursday evening, areas of Bayfield and Ashland counties were hit by a second, high-wind storm, following last weekend's, which left massive flooding in its wake. Due to saturated soils from the previous storm, numerous trees were down in the region.

Water levels across the state are variable at this time, with some areas dropping to just above average and others, fed by the past storm and rain events, sitting much higher. This has led to large fluctuations in both angling pressure and angling success over the past week and weekend.

Those on the northeastern sections, between Manitowoc and Marinette, were seeing more consistent walleye success. Anglers in those counties were also landing catfish, smallmouth and sheepshead, with intermittent mentions of perch success. The smallmouth bass bite picked up this past week and anglers were catching bass of all sizes throughout Door County. Decent numbers of yellow perch are being caught off of Little Sturgeon Bay and Sawyer Harbor. Anglers fishing on the southeastern sections of Lake Michigan, from Kenosha all the way up to Sheboygan, were consistently landing chinook, coho and rainbow trout, with a smattering of browns and freshwater drum. Early in the week a large number of anglers caught their limit of trout and salmon on McKinley Pier in Milwaukee, but by Thursday the water temperature dropped down to 45 degrees and the fish moved out.

Anglers in the Northwoods were combatting washouts and road closures this week, but that didn't stop them from working up consistent musky action. Topwater baits near weed edges or beds have been successful. Largemouth bass have also settled into their summer patterns and decent catches are resulting. Smallmouth seem to have moved back to deeper water and walleye are proving similarly challenging. There has been some success for crappie, perch and rock bass, but sizable bluegill still remain tough to find.

Off the water and on the prairie, the bouquet of blooming flowers continues to change as spiked blazing star, rattlesnake master, American germander and more make their first appearance this year. Accompanying the growth are sounds and sights from cicadas, grasshoppers, butterflies and more.

With the second hay harvest of the year, turkey broods will be taking to the cut fields looking for the previously mentioned insects. Fawns are also beginning to move more independently from their mothers and feed on the plants around them. The elk bachelor bulls from the Clam Lake herd are still spread throughout the south part of the forest and their antlers are almost fully developed.



Blackberries and blueberries abound in the woods and edges of waterways and trails, get to them before the birds and have a fantastic, warm, weekend in Wisconsin's outdoors!

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• South Dakota State Smallmouth Bass Record Broken
• Lake Michigan Salmon scarce. Steelhead and Lake Trout round out catches

Wisconsin Weekly Outdoor Report 6/10/2016

Musky fishing picking up on northern lakes and Green Bay; recent rains have raised water levels on Wisconsin and other rivers

Recent rains have added to high water levels across the state. The Wisconsin River is short on sandbars for the moment, but levels are dropping any may be near more normal levels by the weekend. That water will be welcome refreshment for those outdoors, as temperatures are expected to enter the mid-80s to high 90s. Mountain bike and all-terrain vehicle trails are wet and muddy some may be closed so call ahead to check on trail conditions.

Erratic weather and strong winds throughout the past week had kept fishing pressure sporadic throughout much of the state. However, angling success for species from panfish to trout, musky to northern pike, has been improving. The mayfly hatch on some northern lakes has put-off the walleye bite some, but musky anglers have been out in pretty good numbers and nearly all have been seeing fish, with good number also being boated. Bass action has been generally good on northern lakes, with some very nice catches of largemouth being made in the last week. Panfish action has been very good in between the rain storms, with bluegill, pumpkinseed and crappie providing some excellent. The bluegill nesting period is still occurring on many waters and some very nice fish have been found near the spawning beds.

On Green Bay, catch rates are on the rise along the east shore with anglers toward the end of the week into the weekend finding good numbers of hungry walleyes and the occasional yellow perch. Musky action was also good on the lower bay with multiple anglers catching 50-inch muskies. Walleye action also continued to be good along the west shore off Oconto and south to the Suamico River. Smallmouth bass anglers brave enough to battle the wind and waves along windy Door County shorelines did very well this past week with reports of 40-50 fish days.

Lake Michigan trout and salmon fishing is picking up with trollers reporting strong success for coho, rainbow and brown trout. Fishing pressure along the Milwaukee shoreline increased this week with a nice stretch of calm stable weather. Nice catches of coho salmon continue to be landed along with a few brown trout in the 5 to 6 pound range.

Greater numbers of does are dropping fawns and turkey broods are starting to band together and move about. Deer will be browsing for forbs or flowers in open areas, which provide the protein in their diet for antler and milk production. Velvet antler growth is now becoming quite visible on bucks. This is also the time of the "molt migration," during which geese begin heading north for the summer, where they will spend time until returning in early fall.

Spiderwort, wood phlox, columbine and Canada mayflower are in bloom. Yellow lady's slipper orchids are in bloom in Door County. Dragonflies, including the 12-spotted skimmer, common whitetail and dot white-face are being seen. Yellow swallowtail butterflies are numerous right now and a few monarchs have been observed. Crickets have responded to the temperature change and have been chirping songs of the coming summer.

Related articles

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• Some Lake Michigan king salmon caught but West Michigan weather stays harsh
• Fish caught three times in one week - by same angler

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report

The Parnell Tower at the northern unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest near Dundee, Wisconsin. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Spring finally arriving to Wisconsin's Northwoods

Despite some flurries still falling on Thursday, it appears that spring is slowly arriving in the Northwoods. Most of the state is now free of snow on the ground, with the exception of heavily wooded areas in the far north that still have a foot or more of snow. Spring is progressing rapidly in the south, with reports of bloodroot and round lobed hepatica blooming in the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest.

Lots of anglers are wondering whether lakes will be ice free in the Northwoods by the May 3 general inland fishing opener. While it depends on the weather between now and then, at this point most lakes still have upwards of 15 inches of ice covering them, so there is a definite possibility that the larger, deeper lakes will still be ice covered, so anglers may want to have alternate plans such as fishing flowages, lakes and spring ponds, as well as streams and rivers.

While northern lakes are still ice covered, access is poor with shorelines having a lot of soft grainy ice and a fringe of open water, so for the most part, the ice angling season has ended. Spring walleye fishing on rivers that remain open year round for game fish had been excellent on some waters, especially northern Lake Michigan tributaries and the Fox, Wolf, Wisconsin and Rock rivers. Action slowed this week, though, with mostly males reported, indicating runs may be coming to a close.

The first signs of the Lake Winnebago sturgeon spawning season were reported this week with pre-spawn activities at numerous sites. As spawning gets closer, male sturgeon actively cruise near the rocked shorelines of sturgeon spawning sites. This "cruising" activity was observedWednesday afternoon at numerous known spawning sites on the Wolf River.

Lake Michigan tributaries were generally running high and muddy but trout and salmon anglers were having some success for steelhead on the East and West Twin Rivers, Menomonee, Root and Pike rivers. A reminder, the early catch and release inland trout season closes this Sunday, April 27.

The spring turkey season is now open and turkeys are starting to break away from the winter flocks. Hunters in the first turkey period saw mild temperatures and conditions overall. With the snow melting in the north, deer have begun to disperse from their deer yards, with many being seen feeding on the grass that has just begun to green up.

The spring bird migration is ramping up, with the vanguard of warblers, including yellow-rumps, palm, pine, orange-crowned, hooded, black-and-white, and northern waterthrush seen in the south. The first whip-poor-wills have returned to the south as well. Overhead, the first kettles of broad-winged hawks have reached Wisconsin from their central and south America wintering areas. Loons are staging on southern lakes such as Mendota and Monona in Madison waiting for ice-out on northern lakes.

This Saturday will be the best opportunity to help out in state parks, with a dozen properties holding Work*Play*Earth Day events. Help out cleaning parks and doing minor maintenance projects in the morning and then stick around to enjoy the park in the afternoon. For information, search the DNR website for Work Play Earth Day.

Related articles

• May 3 inland fishing opener kicks off another exciting year of Wisconsin fishing (family-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report summary for March 14, 2013 (family-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Wisconsin Great Lakes Fishing Trips (wisconsinlakes.info)

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report summary for March 13, 2014

Snow Cat (Photo credit: clickclique)

Warm weather reduces snow cover in the south, deep snow persists in the north

Some very warm weather early in the week, reaching into the 50s statewide, has taken a toll on winter sports conditions, especially in the southern half of the state. The warm weather melted a lot of snow in a hurry leaving a muddy mess in far southern areas and water standing in many fields and yards. Many southern facing slopes in the south are now snow free, much to the delight of wildlife.

In the north, however, while snow settled some with the warm up, the deep snow persists. Snowmobile trails remain open and are still being reported as good to very good in many northern counties on the Department of Tourism's Snow Conditions Report. Most state park and forest properties are reporting that cross-country ski grooming is likely over for the season, unless the state receives another big snowfall. Trails in the south are generally in poor condition, and while trails in the north are snow-covered, they have been icy in the mornings and soft and slushy as temperatures warm throughout the day.

State wildlife officials continue to monitor the harsh winter's impact on deer and turkey. They continue to ask the public's help in reporting any dead deer or turkeys to local wildlife biologists. And responding to many hunters' concerns over turkey populations in the north, wildlife officials have announced that they will reduce the number of over-the-counter spring turkey permits available in some northern units.

Northern Wisconsin lakes are still solidly locked in ice, with 22 to 30 inches on most lakes with layers of slush on top, making travel very difficult. Lakes in southern Wisconsin have just begun to show signs of early break-up with some landings and shorelines having open water, especially near inlets and outlets. Wardens are cautioning people against driving any vehicles on river systems as they are also beginning to open up.

Ice fishing pressure has been pretty non-existent in the north, but this week's warm weather did trigger some good panfish action on southern and central Wisconsin lakes. The milder weather brought out more anglers last weekend on Green Bay, where anglers continue to fish though deep ice with success for whitefish and northern pike reported along the east and west shore. There is some more open water in southeastern Lake Michigan harbors, but most are still locked in ice and anglers continue to catch brown and rainbow trout through the ice.

Raccoon, skunk, muskrat, mink, and opossum activity has increased as temperatures are increasing and snow is receding. River otter sign along creeks and streams may be more evident this time of year as male otters increase their movements during the March to April breeding season. Fox and gray squirrels are feeding furiously on nuts and seeds that have remained buried all winter under snow and ice, and males are actively pursuing females.

The spring bird migration is off to a tempered start with arrival of small numbers of sandhill cranes, red-winged blackbirds, and American robins in the south. Waterfowl rank among the earliest migrants and a good diversity of birds are now on the move. However, this winter's extensive ice cover continues to take a toll on many diving ducks as numerous dead birds are showing up along the Lake Michigan shoreline as ice recedes.

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• Wisconsin DNR is measuring winter's impact on deer and turkey (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
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Wisconsin Outdoors: White-tailed deer rut continues in full swing

The white-tailed deer rut is continuing in full swing across much of the state, with bucks chasing does during the daytime and lots of scrapes and rubs still being found, but some areas report deer activity is beginning to slow, with bucks locked down with does.

Archers have been out in very strong numbers and continue to report some very good success. Good numbers of pheasant hunters have also been out and are also reporting success on stocked wildlife areas. Although blaze orange clothing isn’t required when gun deer seasons are not open, conservation wardens say with the large numbers of hunters in the field, wearing blaze orange while pheasant hunting greatly increases hunter safety.

Leaf drop is now progressing rapidly in southern Wisconsin, with oaks beginning to drop leaves in the last week. With leaves off the trees, grouse hunters are reporting improved success.

Visitors to Wisconsin state park properties are reminded that many properties will open to hunting and trapping on November 15. Maps showing areas open and closed to hunting are available on the DNR website and posted at all properties. All park visitors are encouraged to wear blaze orange or other brightly colored clothing during the hunting seasons, which remain open in parks through December 15 for firearms and through January 5 for archery. For a list of open properties, maps and more information search the DNR website for "hunting state parks."

The cold weather of the last week has caused a lot of puddle ducks to move south, while bringing in increasing numbers of diving ducks. Strong north winds in the last week increased Canada goose and tundra swan migrations.

With all the hunting activity and colder temperatures, fishing activity has slowed and the open water fishing season is coming to an end in the Northwoods, with ice beginning to form along shorelines of larger lakes, but it will still be at least a couple of weeks before there is any safe ice for ice fishing. A few musky anglers are still out, but without much success. Some crappies and perch were being caught on the Oconto River. In the south, walleye continue to be caught on Lake Wisconsin and the Rock River. Coho and chinook salmon and some rainbow and brown trout continue to be caught on Lake Michigan tributaries, especially the Sheboygan, Milwaukee and Root rivers.

With the opening of the nine-day gun deer season rapidly approaching, hunters should make sure firearms are properly sighted in and that hunting gear is order. Search the DNR website for “shooting ranges” to find a map of public ranges. Hunters can also get pre-season questions answered by joining any of three live online chats. They all begin at noon: on Tuesday, Nov. 19, what to expect for the season; on Wednesday, Nov. 20, on hunting land accessible to the public; and on Thursday, Nov. 21 on safety and regulations. To join: search “ask the experts” on the DNR website.

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• White-tailed deer rut underway across Wisconsin (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Northwestern Wisconsin receives snow; whitetail deer rut continues in full swing (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• First Ever Pre-rut Whitetail Antlerless Season Opens Oct. 12 (kansas-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• New Antlerless Deer Muzzleloader Season a Success for Ohio Hunters (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• North Dakota Hunters Report Few Sightings of Dead Deer (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)

Northwestern Wisconsin receives snow; whitetail deer rut continues in full swing

A band of snow moved across northwestern Wisconsin this week dropping 3 to 4 inches in some areas with only minimal melting reported due to colder temperatures, which are also forming more skim to light ice on small ponds.

The white-tail deer rut continues in full swing in many areas, though some areas report it is just getting underway. Deer have been observed during all hours of the day. Fawns are beginning to split away from does and bucks are being seen more during daylight hours. Archers continue to reports some very good success.

Trappers are out in full force and are reporting good success in harvesting raccoons but some areas are reporting lower numbers of muskrats.

Grouse hunters are having more success now in their late season spots with birds keying in on small fruits like hawthorn, grapes, and viburnum. A few straggler woodcock were still around for the last weekend of the season which closed Nov. 4. The dove season closes Nov. 9.

Visitors to Wisconsin state park properties are reminded that many properties will open to hunting and trapping on Nov. 15. Maps are posted at all properties indicating which areas are open and closed to hunting. All park visitors are encouraged to wear blaze orange or other brightly colored clothing during the

hunting seasons, which remain open in parks through Dec. 15 for firarms and through Jan. 5 for archery. For a list of open properties, maps and more information search the DNR website for "hunting state parks."

Waterfowl migration picked up across the state this past week. Aerial surveys taken 1 to 10 miles offshore from Manitowoc to Door County tallied more than 20,000 long-tailed ducks and 5,000 red-breasted mergansers this week. Tens of thousands of canvasbacks, mallards, ring-necked ducks, wigeon, and other ducks continue on the Mississippi River pools. On Chequamegon Bay in Ashland, birders reported hundreds of common goldeneyes, typically one of the latest migrant ducks. Migratory Canada geese numbers continue to build up at Horicon and Theresa Marsh wildlife areas.

With the cold and breezy weather of the past week, fishing pressure has been generally light across the Northwoods. A few musky anglers have been out trying their luck and have had minimal success. The walleye bite on the Menominee River in Marinette County has been very good. In the south, musky and walleye anglers have been reporting moderate to good action on Lakes Monona and Waubesa and nice catches of walleye have been reported on Lake Wisconsin. Anglers along the Rock River have been catching walleye, white bass, and northern pike.

Rain late last week brought additional fall fish-run opportunities for anglers as additional salmon made a run up Lake Michigan tributary streams. Coho moved up the Root River in large numbers along with some chinook and brown trout. Fish were also reported in the Manitowoc, Kewaunee and Oconto rivers.

Sandhill cranes are plentiful and the newly released whooping cranes that were reared at Horicon this past summer are still in the area and can be seen hanging around with sandhill cranes in farm fields near the marsh. Tundra swans arrived in significant numbers as they stage here en route to wintering areas along the Atlantic coast. Loons are heading south, with three seen on Lake Monona this in Madison this week.

Fall colors (exit DNR) are now past peak in southern Wisconsin, though many areas report oak trees came into their own glory last week with impressive colors, ranging from yellow, orange, deep reds and the traditional russet browns.

Related articles

• White-tailed deer rut underway across Wisconsin (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• First Ever Pre-rut Whitetail Antlerless Season Opens Oct. 12 (kansas-outdoors.blogspot.com)

White-tailed deer rut underway across Wisconsin

Reports from across the state indicate the white-tailed deer rut is underway with a surge in scrapes and

rubs that bucks use to mark territory, and bucks being seen in active pursuit of does. Archers are reporting some very good success with larger bucks now on the move. Deer movement has been going on day and night and vehicle deer collisions are on the rise. Motorists need to be alert for deer suddenly entering roadways and remember if one deer crosses there is likely another deer in pursuit.

Cold fronts in the last week have brought increasing numbers of Canada geese into the state. Waterfowl hunters along the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan are reporting increasing numbers of diving ducks including bluebills, redheads, and canvasbacks.

Pheasant hunters are enjoying an abundance of birds on state wildlife areas, with stocking up from 2012. Birds will continue to be released throughout the month of November. Grouse hunters are reporting a few birds but in general the population does seem to be on the lower end of its cycle, though some areas are reporting decent woodcock numbers.

The wolf harvest has reached 181 animals as of October 31 and the season has now been closed in three harvesting zones [PDF], the two most northern zones and the central forest zone. Raccoon trappers are also reporting increased success this season.

With all the hunting activity and colder weather, fishing activity has slowed in many areas, but hardcore musky anglers are still reporting decent success on northern lakes, where some good walleye action has also been reported. Some bluegill action was reported on pools of the Mississippi River. Skim ice has been seen in the mornings on the backwaters of the Mississippi as well as on small Northwoods ponds.

Fishing pressure has dropped off on Green Bay but there were some perch being caught in the Sturgeon Bay area. Lake Michigan tributaries are still producing some salmon and trout, but the fall runs appear to be subsiding.

Sandhill crane numbers continue to build as traditional hotspots like Crex Meadows in Burnett County and along the Lower Wisconsin River. Large roosts of blackbirds numbering up to 50,000 are being seen in the south. Tundra swans made their first push into the state this week. The red-tailed hawk migration is just passed peak, while bald eagle numbers are on the rise and golden eagles and rough-legged hawks have moved in from their arctic nesting grounds.

Fall colors (exit DNR) are now past peak across most of the state, but there are still counties in southern and central Wisconsin reporting peak colors. The northern unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest reports colors past peak, but the southern unit reports improved colors for this coming weekend. Some of the best colors across the state now are coming from Wisconsin’s only deciduous conifer, the tamarack. This unique tree found in swamps, bogs, and wet lowlands and its needles turn bright golden color before dropping.

And another sure siga n that winter is approaching, most state parks have now closed campground shower and flush toilet facilities and the three tunnels on the Elroy-Sparta State Trail will be closing for the season next week.

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• MDC needs hunter help with CWD sampling in north-central Missouri (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• North Dakota Hunters Report Few Sightings of Dead Deer (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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 Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report

 Looking northwest at the mouth of the Sturgeon Bay, a bay in the Bay of Green Bay on Lake Michigan near Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin from Potawatomi State Park. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Fall Color now near or at peak in Wisconsin's Northwoods

Fall color is now at or very near peak across much of northern Wisconsin, about nearing peak in central Wisconsin and probably a week away in the Black River State Forest area and about two weeks off in the far south. Remember you can check progress on the Department of Tourism’s Fall Color Report (exit DNR).

DNR offices have been receiving inquiries on the status of state properties in light of the federal government shutdown. All state park, forest, trail and wildlife and fisheries areas remain open for public recreation and enjoyment.

Autumn activities continue this weekend at many state properties, with a fall festival at Crex Meadows Wildlife Area in Burnett County, the 25th Colorama Run-Walk at the Lapham Peak unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest in Waukesha County, and Run Wild and Potawatomi State Park in Door County. On Saturday the C.D. “Buzz” Besandy Anadromous Fish Facility in Kewaunee will hold an open house from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be tours, egg collection demonstrations, wagon rides and an “Adopt a Sturgeon” event where individuals will get to release a baby sturgeon into the river.

A cool foggy mornings made for a great southern duck opener in east central Wisconsin while sunny and breezy conditions greeted hunters in the southwest. Hunters reported good numbers of mallards, wood ducks, and teal. Goose hunters are beginning to have much more success with the increase of corn being harvested.

With waterfowl hunting seasons underway and trapping on the horizon, it’s a good time for outdoor enthusiasts to consider whether their gear might be transporting harmful invasive species (EDITOR'S ADVISORY: link to news release including slide show) to and from a favorite hunting spot, Wisconsin invasive species experts say.

Archery hunters have been out in large numbers on both state owned and private lands, with deer activity picking up during the evening hours. Some young whitetail bucks have already left their bachelor groups and started to chase does. A youth gun deer hunt [PDF] will be held statewide this weekend and bow hunters are reminded that they are required to wear blaze orange in the field.

Musky fishing has been bordering on excellent in the Northwoods with anglers reporting multiple catches on a single trip. The sucker bite really turned on in the last week. Walleye have also begun to get more active and anglers are having increased success.

Strong winds limited activity on Green Bay this week but when possible to get out anglers have been catching some nice walleye. Perch fishing has been good at Sturgeon Bay, Little Sturgeon Bay and Sawyer Harbor. There were a lot of king salmon being caught from the piers in Sturgeon Bay and in the shipping canal.

Lake Michigan tributary fishing pressure has increased and catch rates have improved, with chinook and coho salmon and brown and rainbow trout all reported. Action was reported on the Manitowoc, Sheboygan and Milwaukee rivers. Flows on the Root and Pike rivers remain low and fewer fish have been seen.

Sandhill cranes have been seen in large flocks along the Lower Wisconsin Riverway. The fall bird migration continues strong across Wisconsin. Saturdayand Tuesday nights saw especially large migration events as millions of birds moved south across the state, including the last of the warblers and a slew of short-distance migrants. The hawk migration is in full swing with peregrine falcons, merlins, American kestrels, sharp-shinned, and Cooper’s hawks nearing their seasonal peaks.

Prairies are now in the late fall stage with showy goldenrod expressing its golden colors and a variety of asters in bloom. Milkweed plants are dispersing seed.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report

Wild rice on northern lakes is ripe and will be harvestable for the next few weeks.

Last week northern Wisconsin was very wet with heavy rain on multiple days and some areas also experienced winds of 50 mph or more with the rain. Water levels in some area are very high. Meanwhile, the west central part of the state remains very dry and fire danger remains high in many counties, with burning permits suspended in some areas.

The Lower Wisconsin River continues to be at fairly low levels for the fall. However, there have been some big fluctuations in the past week, caused by discharges at the Prairie du Sac dam. The river has come up or dropped down as much as one foot in 36 hours, so paddlers are urged to take that into account when choosing sandbars for camping.

Musky have been the highlight of the past week in Northwoods fishing and action was very good. Nearly all anglers were reporting sightings, follows and strikes. Artificial baits have provided most of the action. Largemouth and smallmouth bass have also provided some very good action, northern pike fishing remains excellent and panfish activity has been sporadic with some decent crappie and bluegill found suspended around deeper water cover.

Lake Michigan trollers have been reporting decent catches with a mixed bag of large rainbows, coho, and chinook. Fishing pressure has remained steady on harbor piers with some chinook reported at Sheboygan, Port Washington, Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha. A few chinook were caught near the mouth of the Pike River, but there were no reports this week of salmon moving up rivers.

The early goose and dove hunting seasons opened last weekend and some hunters did very well on doves during opening weekend, especially in the Columbia County area. Some goose hunters reported success, while others reported that it was pretty hard to locate geese due to the late farming season. Few fields have been cut so the birds are still spending time in retention ponds and elsewhere.

Whitetail bucks are starting to shed their antler velvet and the red coats on deer are starting to turn to the darker winter color. Fawns are also changing, their coats are starting to turn dark and they are beginning to lose their spots. Cooler weather is increasing deer movement, especially during the day, so drivers should beware.

Coyotes have been very vocal over the last several weeks, enlivening quiet nights with their barking, howling and yipping. Family groups have established rendezvous sites where family groups will meet to socialize and prepare for hunts. Coyote pups are especially vocal this time of year and will readily respond when howled at by a human.

Some of the late summer-early fall flowers that can be seen now are large-leaved aster, native sunflowers, evening primrose, goldenrod, and jewelweed. Wild rice on northern lakes is ripe and will be harvestable for the next few weeks. Numerous regulated wild rice lakes have opened in the last week. Search the DNR website for wild rice for information on what lakes are open and harvest rules.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report

Door County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Water levels remain high, water temperatures cool for early June

Regular rainfall across the entire state in the last week continues to keep water levels high in many areas and the Great Lakes as well as inland lakes and rivers continue to be colder than normal for early June.

Water levels on the Flambeau River remain high and paddlers are finding trips shorter between landings with the fast moving water. Mississippi River water levels continue to drop but there are still several more feet to go. Most boat landings are back in service. Kayakers heading to Door County for a sea kayak symposium this weekend are being cautioned that Lake Michigan is still unusually cold and quick forming fog is a good possibility.

With school out and as water temperatures begin to heat up people will be hitting the beach. Visit the DNR website for information about new tools and some common sense reminders that can help people find beaches and stay safe and healthy while enjoying Wisconsin’s lakes and rivers.

Lake Michigan trout and salmon fishing has really picked up in the past week with nice catches reported at most ports. Good-sized chinook salmon were reported in the Kewaunee-Door counties area. It hasn’t been an automatic limit, but several boats are bringing in double digit salmon. Lake temperatures are still really low; mid- to upper 40s at the surface and high 30s to mid-40s. Good numbers of coho along with some chinook salmon and lake and rainbow trout have been reported from all southern Lake Michigan harbors, with many trollers reporting catching limits.
Walleye were being caught on the Menominee River, and a number of impressive 50-plus- inch muskies were caught on the river the past week. Along Door County, there continues to be some excellent bass fishing along the northern portion of the peninsula on both the lake and bay sides. Walleye anglers were still having success on lower Green Bay.

Inland, there has been some very good panfish action with crappies on spawning beds and bluegills just beginning to move onto beds. The water temps where the crappies have been biting have been around 58 to 60 degrees. There have been some reports of limit catches and anglers are reminded to use discretion in fishing crappies and bluegills when they are on their nests and very vulnerable to harvest.

Reports of fawns really picked up this week, and unfortunately instances of some well-meaning people bringing in abandoned fawns. Again, doe deer normally leave their fawns for long periods of time when they are first born. This is a protective measure against predators as fawns give off very little scent. If you find a fawn all by itself, leave it be. Its mom is close by.

Canada geese broods are being seen in good numbers and wood duck and mallard ducklings are hatching. Sandhill crane colts have been seen with parents as they feed and learn the surroundings. The first trumpeter swan cygnets have been reported at the Crex Meadows Wildlife Area in Burnett County.

Jack-in-the-pulpit, smooth yellow violet, Tartarian honeysuckle, black and choke cherries, miterwort, Canadian mayflower, baneberry, nodding trillium, hawthorn, blue cohosh, and starflower are blooming in the north. There have also been reports of wild strawberries beginning to fruit and wild blueberries blossoming.

Related articles

• A Great Lakes Story of Rescue! (family-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Michigan Weekly Fishing Report (family-outdoors.blogspot.com)

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report

Cool spring means colder water temperatures than usual for the Memorial Day holiday weekend

The cool spring means water temperatures across most of the state will be colder than usual for the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Water levels on streams and rivers are beginning to recede, but they remain high on many river systems. The Mississippi is beginning to drop in the lower pools, but is still rising on some of the northern pools. The Flambeau River is running

nearly 2 feet above normal on the North Fork. The Rock River had dropped from flood stage but slow-no-wake rules remain in place in Rock County.

Widespread rain has alleviated fire danger and helped “green up” vegetation around the state, but 30 wildfires still burned 32 acres in DNR Protection Areas the past week.

Many state parks and forests report that most reservable campsites are booked for the weekend, but there are still some open sites. People can also now check the DNR website for availability of non-reservable sites for camping in the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, which has nearly 900 campsites.

Next weekend, June 1-2 is Free Fun Weekend in Wisconsin with free fishing, free DNR trails and free ATV/UTV riding June 1 and 2 and free entry to state parks and forests Sunday, June 2 only.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: a video invitation for free fun weekend from DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp and Wisconsin Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch is available in the online DNR Outdoor Report.]

Most northern lakes and flowages currently have high water levels from recent heavy rains. The erratic weather of the past week made for some variable water temperatures ranging from the upper 40s on the large and deep lakes to the mid to upper 60s on some smaller lakes.

The variable weather also made for constantly changing fishing success, though walleye anglers have been experiencing steadily improving action and success over the past week. Daily walleye bag limits will increase May 25 on more than 440 lakes in northern Wisconsin in time for the long Memorial Day weekend as spring spearing winds down by the Wisconsin bands of Chippewa Indians. Only seven of the preliminary 197 lakes that were set at a one fish bag limit will have that limit. All others will move to a two, three four or five fish limit. Check the DNR website for the revised ceded territory bag limits [PDF].

Northern pike success has been fair and panfish activity has picked up with the warm-up in water temperatures. Bass activity has also been increasing, but the erratic weather has kept fish in deeper water. The first largemouth bass spawning activity has been observed in some lakes. Crappies and white bass were biting below the Wisconsin Dells dam on the Wisconsin River.

Bass are just beginning to move onto their beds on Green Bay and there has been some excellent bass fishing all around Door County. On Lake Michigan, salmon fishing has really begun to pick up with the arrival of coho in southern waters, especially at Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha, with some trollers have reported catching limits.

The spring turkey season ended with hunters having better success at the end of the season with the warmer temperatures. Hen turkeys have established nests and will be sitting on eggs for the next few weeks.

Bucks are growing their antlers and does are beginning to give birth to fawns. Again, does will leave their young for long periods of time. These fawns are not abandoned…leave them where they and their mothers will return to care for them.

Butterfly species are slowly emerging including: Karner blue butterflies, spring azures, pine, horary and brown elfins, and mourning cloaks. Spring ephemerals are peaking with trout lilies, trilliums, wild geranium, bellwort, bloodroot, anemones, marsh marigold and violets blooming. And more morels are popping up with some mushroom hunters reporting finding several pounds of these spring delicacies.

Related articles

• Wisconsin regular inland game fish season opens Saturday, May 4 (family-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Iowa Campsites in High Demand for Memorial Day Weekend (family-outdoors.blogspot.com)

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report

The Parnell Tower at the northern unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest near Dundee, Wisconsin. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Spring has arrived on the calendar, but while winter arrived late, it does not appear ready to leave. This stands in contrast to last year when the sun was shining and the snow and ice were melting in unseasonable hot temperatures.

Much of the state has had more snow and blowing snow this week, along with cold. Snow depths range from a low of 2 to 4 inches in the far south, to more than 30 inches in the far north. This is good for skiers and snowmobilers, but not for outdoor enthusiasts looking to transition from cold, ice and snow to spring activities, including bird watching, turkey hunting and tree tapping.

Snowmobile trails are currently open in about the northern half of the state, with conditions ranging from fair to excellent on the Department of Tourism’s Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR). Skiers will find the same conditions in the north, and even fair to good in some central and southern locations like the Kettle Moraine State Forest and Peninsula, Potawatomi, Wildcat Mountain and Blue Mound state parks.

The game fish season is closed on most inland waters, and the cold weather has slowed panfishing activity, but snowmelt is starting to draw some steelhead up Lake Michigan tributaries, with some decent action on open stretches of the Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Milwaukee and Root rivers but many river sections remain unfishable due to ice flows.

Unseasonably cold weather conditions have delayed the start of Wisconsin’s maple syrup season. Large producers and backyard hobbyist are anxiously awaiting a break in the cold weather which may occur next week. Ideal conditions for large sap runs are daytime highs in the 40s and nighttime lows in the 20s.

In addition to the series of public meetings going on now to gather public input on the 2013 deer season structure wildlife officials have launched two new surveys to collect feedback from a diverse set of interests representing hunters and non-hunters. The Deer Management Unit Survey is a way for people to provide input for the 2013 hunting seasons. The second survey, called the Deer Trustee Implementation Survey, focuses on broader long-term deer management in Wisconsin and ways that it can be enhanced. State wildlife officials want to hear from anyone interested in deer, from farmers to landowners to wildlife watchers. Find the surveys by searching the DNR website for Deer Hunter Forum and deer trustee report.

Red fox pups are being born, fox and gray squirrel too. Lots of mink and otter tracks are visible in the fresh snow. Redpolls and goldfinches have been going crazy at Wood County bird feeders. Winter songbirds and woodpeckers are getting their bright breeding plumage. Trumpeter swans, Canada geese, and many diving ducks, including bufflehead, blue bills -- or scaup -- and mergansers can be seen in the open water of the Mississippi River in Grant County, but with the snow and cold weather, there has been some reverse migration of sandhill cranes.

Related articles

• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report summary for March 14, 2013 (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report summary for March 14, 2013 (family-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Public meetings set to develop Deer Trustee Report implementation plans (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report summary (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report summary (family-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Study continues to monitor cause of mortality among Wisconsin deer (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Growing number of Michigan deer hunters give crossbows a try (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report (family-outdoors.blogspot.com)