Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report

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Morning temperatures dipping well below freezing

It is finally starting to feel like fall in Wisconsin. With temperatures dipping well below freezing the morning, the frost has been hitting the trees hard leading to more leaf drop. The leaf drop is assisting archery and game bird hunters in finding their targets easier. In parts of northern Wisconsin snow has started to cover the ground, which helps in the pursuit of game. Whitetail scrapes and rubs are becoming more prevalent, and more deer movement is occurring during the day time hours.

Mixed success has been reported during the opening weekend of pheasant season. Some areas that received controlled burns in the spring made it a little harder to locate game birds. Wolf season is off to a much faster start compared to last year’s inaugural season. A second wolf was harvested in Columbia County this week, and one wolf was taken by bow and arrow in the northwoods. Wolf hunting and trapping Zone 2 is now closed, due to the zone reaching its quota. Do not forget that the Lake Winnebago sturgeon spearing license deadline ends on October 31.

There will be several Halloween hikes occurring on state properties this weekend. On Saturday October 26 there will be Halloween hikes at Copper Falls State Park, Crex Meadows Wildlife Area, Devil's Lake State Park, Heritage Hill State Park, High Cliff State Park and Willow River State Park. The MacKenzie Center in Poynette will be hosting a haunted hay ride on Saturday as well. For more information on these events visit http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/getoutdoors/events.html.

Conifer, hardwood and shrub seedlings are available to purchase through the DNR nursery program beginning September 27, 2013. Landowners are required to purchase a minimum of 300 trees or shrubs and must use the stock for conservation plantings. An application is available online at http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/TreePlanting/, by calling 715-424-3700 or from your local DNR office. Nursery stock is sold at cost with variable prices depending on the species, age and quantity ordered. Cost sharing may be available to help defray the cost of nursery stock, site preparation and planting. Contact your local DNR forester for more information.

Cool, windy and wet weather (and even some snow) seemed to limit a lot of fishing activity in the northwoods in the last week. Water temperatures have now dropped into the low 50's and upper 40's, and the fall turnover is now completed on most lakes in the north. Musky anglers have continued to provide most of the fishing pressure on our northern lakes and their success has started to get inconsistent. Door County bass fishing remained hot from the county line to Washington Island. Fishing on Lake Wisconsin and the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway is also picking up due to lower water temperatures.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report summary for January 19, 2012

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Much of Wisconsin received snowfall last weekend and this week, but snow depths continue to be marginal for outdoor winter recreation through much of southern, central and northwestern parts of the state. Anywhere from 4 to 6 inches of snow fell last weekend, but the snow was light and fluffy and strong winds caused drifting and bear spots in many locations. Snowmobile trails remain open only in about a dozen northern counties, and are only rated as good in a few of those according to the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR). Cross-country ski conditions faired better, but many trails in the southern half of the state have had minimal grooming and many are reporting there are some bare or thin spots. The good news is that snow is forecast for later this week into the weekend, with higher amounts expected in the southern part of the state.

Cold temperatures that moved into Wisconsin this week have finally frozen over most of the larger lakes that still had open water last week, including Winnebago and Mendota. However, some areas are reporting that certain spots are still being kept open by large numbers of waterfowl that were staying in the area. And conservation wardens are continuing to caution that much of the ice that formed is still very thin, and now covered by a protective layer of snow. There were numerous reports of snowmobiles and ATVs going through the ice on Lake Winnebago in the last week. Wardens are still advising foot traffic only on southern waters and for people to check ice depths regularly and be prepared should they fall through thin ice.

Ice conditions in the north through the central part of the state are generally good with a foot or more being reported in many locations. Many areas reporting fishing action slowed this week, likely due to the new snow cover. The best action continued to be for panfish, with some reports of very nice crappie and bluegill being caught, but with anglers having to move around a lot to find them. Action for walleye was slower, but there were still some reports of nice northern pike being taken on tip-ups.

While ice has also begun to form on some Lake Michigan harbors, there were still anglers open water fishing this past week. None of the harbor ice is considered safe at this time. Similarly, ice is again forming on the Bay of Green Bay and Lake Superior’s Chequamegon Bay, but it is not safe. Anglers on Sawyer harbor and Little Sturgeon Bay were reportedly fishing along the shore ice, but with open water not too far out in the bay.

Mid-January generally is the onset of coyote and red fox breeding cycles that last into March. Cold, crisp winter nights afford opportunities to listen for the raspy barks of red fox or the high pitched yipping of coyotes. Pup litters of both species are born in March or April.

Among the waterfowl keeping areas of some lakes open were more than 300 tundra swans that have been on Lake Mendota for a couple of weeks. And more than 100 trumpeter swans have been reported on open water at Willow River State Park in St. Croix County. Visitors to bird feeder have included nuthatches, pine siskins, black-capped chickadees, dark-eyed juncos, blue jays, tufted titmice, northern cardinals and American goldfinches.

Related articles

• Wisconsin DNR Outdoor Report Summary for January 5, 2012 (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Wisconsin: Three people drown within three days after falling through thin ice (family-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Wisconsin DNR Outdoor Report Summary for December 22, 2011 (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report Summary for January 12, 2012 (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Wisconsin Outdoor Report as of December 1, 2011 (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)

Wisconsin Outdoor Report as of August 18, 2011

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Moderate temperatures and low humidity in much of the state made for more pleasant conditions for outdoors activities. Angler survey shows August is still a good time for fishing for many species, and anglers in many parts around the state proved that over the week.

In lakes and rivers in the Upper Chippewa Basin, which includes Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties, anglers enjoyed some pleasant fishing conditions, with musky and bass becoming especially active. Musky success showed a nice little surge and most anglers reported some good action from small and medium-size fish. The fish seemed to be active along the weed edges and deep break lines, with jerks baits and swim baits the most productive. Action for both largemouth and smallmouth bass has been consistent and some very nice fish have been caught and released in the last week.

Rough boating conditions on Lake Michigan over the weekend in Sheboygan and Ozaukee counties kept fishing pressure down. In Racine, once the lake settled down, trollers have been catching chinooks along with a few rainbows and coho. Most fish have been found in 80 to 140 feet of water, and flashers and flies as well as spoons have produced. Green glow-in-the-dark, purple, and blue spoons have produced, as well as blue and green flies. Perch fishing has dwindled in Racine, and shore fishing for trout and salmon remains slow as well.

In Lake Michigan near Kenosha, fish have moved further offshore since the weekend winds. Trollers have recently had success catching chinooks and a few rainbows and coho in 90 to 140 feet of water. Perch fishing has slowed in Kenosha for both boats and shore anglers. A few brown trout have been caught in the harbor, but those have been few and far between.

Walleye fishing is still going good on the Wolf River in Waupaca County. Drag a half of a night crawler on the bottom and you'll have a chance at some great success. Crappies are starting to bite too.

Anglers on the Wisconsin River have been finding good smallmouth bass fishing in Columbia and Sauk counties now that waters have returned to near normal stage. Topwater lures seem to be the key.

On the Rock River, catfish are still being caught as well as some panfish. Some catfish are being found dead along that river so DNR is asking anyone finding a fresh specimen or a catfish near death to contact local fisheries staff so they can obtain a sample for testing to try to pinpoint the problem.

The cicadas are out and calling throughout the afternoon hours and it's a great time for butterfly watching. Monarchs and yellow swallowtails have been seen in numbers as well on various wildflowers like compass plant, bergamot, and cup plant.

Reports of deer are picking up. At Willow River State Park in west central Wisconsin, the deer fawns are losing their spots. Look for a doe and two fawns on the hillsides not far below the boat launch along the road. They tend to be out around evening meal time.

At Brunet Island State Park, it's been birds, birds, birds. Bald eagles, kingfishers, scarlet tanagers, rose-breasted grosbeaks, great blue herons, red winged blackbirds, sandhill cranes, red polls, and robins are just the start of the list staff have reported.

Wildflowers are putting on a show as well.

An updated web page Natural Resources Monthly, links to more information about August phenology, activities at their peak this time of the year, including butterfly watching, and online resources to help find new outdoors experiences and information to enjoy. Go to DNR's home page at dnr.wi.gov and look on the left-hand side for "natural resources."