South Dakota: East River, Muzzleloader and Refuge Deer Applications Due

Paper applications for the first drawing for the East River, Muzzleloader and Refuge Deer seasons must be postmarked by Friday, September 2.

Electronic applications may be submitted until 8 AM CDT, Tuesday, September 6.

For more information, and to apply online, visit:

http://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/big-game/deer/default.aspx

North Dakota Outdoor Events

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Sept. 1: Dove season opens.1: Youth deer season (ages 14 and 15 - regular license) and antlerless white-tailed deer season (ages 12 and 13) application deadline.2: Elk bow seasons (Units E-1, E-2) open.2: Elk regular season (Unit E-5) opens.2: Any-elk September seasons (Units E3, E4) open.2: Deer bow season opens.2: Mountain lion zone 1 early season opens.2: Mountain lion zone 2 season opens.2: Moose bow seasons (Units M4, M5, M6, M8, M9, M10, M11) open.7: Canada geese early season Missouri River Zone closes.9: Public sight-in day, BMRPA Moffit Range.10: Sharp-tailed grouse, Hungarian partridge, ruffed grouse, and tree squirrel seasons open.

Complete List of Schedule of Events

North Dakota: Popular Hunting Areas Affected by Flood

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More than half of 72,000 wildlife management area acres along the Missouri River that were once a haven for wildlife and a destination for hunters will likely be devoid of each this fall.

North Dakota Game and Fish Department biologists say nearly 40,000 acres – some of the most pristine public hunting lands in the state – have suffered from months of flooding.

Jeb Williams, wildlife resource management supervisor in Bismarck, said 15,000 acres of the Oahe Wildlife Management Area have been inundated with water, essentially making it swampland that is at least temporarily unattractive to wildlife.

“This area south of Bismarck-Mandan has been extremely popular with deer and pheasant hunters, because it provides some of the best wildlife habitat in the state,” Williams said. “But this year’s flood has changed the dynamics dramatically.”

There are 20-plus WMAs from Williston to south of Bismarck on the Missouri River System, and many were entirely or partially flooded through spring and summer.

Kent Luttschwager, wildlife resource management supervisor in Williston, said hunters will have to adapt this fall, as wildlife populations that have called the Missouri River bottoms home are now displaced because of high water.

“Lewis and Clark WMA is popular with hunters because it offers some of the most prolific wildlife habitat in the region,” Luttschwager said. “But exceptional wildlife habitat has been covered in water for several months.”

Dan Halstead, wildlife resource management supervisor in Riverdale, said the spillway channel running through Riverdale WMA near Garrison Dam was originally 30 yards wide, but is nearly 200 yards wide today.

“But this area was only covered in water for maybe a week as the water quickly made its way back into the channel,” Halstead said. Because of this, he said access is gradually coming around, and will continue to improve through September.

“We are going to have some vegetation issues, but the river bottoms in this area is in better condition than Bismarck and Williston, just because of the prolonged effects of overland flooding in those areas,” Halstead said.

While no one can predict how much property will be lost to this year’s record flood, Luttschwager said it will take time to recover.

Nature Conservancy Land Opened to Deer Hunting

WEST UNION, OH – Deer hunters will again have access to prime deer hunting land at the Edge of Appalachia Preserve in Adams County for the 2011-2012 hunting season.  The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Cincinnati Museum Center (CMC), and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife opened land to deer hunting by permit only in 2006. New this season hunters must attend an informational meeting prior to the season to obtain The Edge of Appalachia hunting permits.

“Approximately 2,263 acres of land at The Edge of Appalachia Preserve will be open to deer hunting only,” explained Dave Kohler, wildlife management supervisor for southwestern Ohio.  “Deer hunters will have the opportunity to hunt in an area that has fantastic habitat.”

Hunter will see a few changes to The Edge of Appalachia deer hunting permits process.  The permit is still free and hunters should plan to attend a short informational meeting to acquire the permit.  This will allow the Edge to handle the bulk of hunters that request permits prior to the season.   Hunters that attend a meeting to apply for permits will also be updated on the program and rules that apply to hunting in the preserve.  Edge of Appalachia staff as well as Division of Wildlife officers will be on had to present the information and answer questions.

The informational meetings are set for August 31st and September 15th and will take place at the Edge of Appalachia office located at 3223 Wagoner Riffle Road, West Union, Ohio, 937.544.2188 . Hunters may register for the permits from 6:00pm-6:30pm both evenings with the short informational meeting to follow.  These permits are valid for deer archery, deer gun, and statewide muzzleloader seasons.  Hunters must be 18 years or older to obtain a permit. A valid 2011-2012 hunting license and deer tags are also required.

Additional information on hunting opportunities in Ohio can be found at www.wildohio.com

Nonresident Landowners Now Required to Purchase Nonresident Ohio Licenses and Permits

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Changes will also impact Ohio residents that own land in Indiana

COLUMBUS, OH – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife reminds nonresident landowners that they are legally required to purchase nonresident licenses to hunt, trap or fish in Ohio.

The new law went into effect on July 1, 2011 and requires a nonresident owner of land in Ohio and the owner’s children and grandchildren, if applicable, to purchase a nonresident hunting license, deer or wild turkey permit, fur taker permit, or nonresident fishing license.

Prior to July 1, Ohio landowners with residency status somewhere other than Ohio did not have to purchase licenses or permits to hunt, trap or fish on land they own. Landowner license exemptions will only apply to Ohio residents.

This change in Ohio law nullifies a reciprocal agreement with Indiana, which means that Ohio residents with land holdings in Indiana are required to purchase a nonresident hunting license, deer or wild turkey permit, fur taker permit, or nonresident fishing license. Similarly, children and grandchildren of a nonresident landowner must purchase hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and permits.

In Ohio, a resident is considered, by law, a person who has resided in the state of Ohio for the past six consecutive months.  In Indiana, a resident is considered, by law, a person whose true fixed and permanent home and principal residence has been in Indiana for 60 consecutive days prior to purchasing a license or permit and who does not claim residency for hunting, trapping or fishing in another state or country other than the U.S. All others are nonresidents.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report

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Most of Wisconsin continued to experience some very pleasant late summer weather, with the exception of some severe weather that moved across the west central and north central portions of the state Tuesday evening, resulting in at least one possible tornado in Clark County.

Most of the state received some rainfall in the last week, and some rivers continue to run above seasonal norms, including the Flambeau, Chippewa and St. Croix, while many others are near seasonal norms, and some northeastern rivers are running below seasonal norms. Water levels on the Mississippi have dropped 1 to 2 feet in the last week and the levels are getting closer to normal. Water levels on the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway are near normal, with abundant sandbars available.

In the north most fishing pressure has been for musky and bass, but a fair number of walleye and panfish anglers have also been trying their luck. With cooling water temperatures, musky activity increased and some nicer fish have been showing up along deep weed edges. Action for both largemouth and smallmouth bass has been consistent and some nice catches have been made in the last week. Walleye action has been best in the river sections of the larger flowages.

On Green Bay, some very nice catches of perch were being taken on the west shore about a mile out from the mouth of the Little River and on the east shore off Bayshore Park, Chaudoir’s Dock and Little Sturgeon Bay, with some limits reported.

On Lake Michigan, surface water temperatures outside the Manitowoc pier dropped about five degrees this week and was at 67 degrees Sunday. Chinook salmon numbers have picked up slightly with an occasional 20-plus pound chinook reported. These old chinook have started turning their dark fall colors, with many observed around the pier heads. Trollers out of the southeastern ports report the majority of fish taken have been chinook, with some lake trout, rainbows, and coho also being caught. Near-shore water temperatures were reported as low as 50 degrees and some chinook were being taken off the piers at Sheboygan.

Remaining permits for the 2011 fall turkey season go on sale at noon this Saturday, August 27. All of the leftover permits are for turkey zones 1-5; there were no leftover permits available for zones 6 or 7. Check the turkey leftover permit availability page for more information. Permits can be purchased through the DNR Online Licensing Center, at all authorized license agents, at DNR Service Centers (service centers are not open on Saturdays), or by calling toll-free 1-877-LICENSE (1-877-945-4236). The fall turkey season opens September 17.

Some whitetail bucks have been seen already starting to shed velvet from their antlers. Many of this year’s fawns have lost or are losing their spots. Early season goose hunters are beginning to scout their hunting spots and are beginning to put up blinds for the opener on September 1. Sandhill cranes are starting to stage in preparation for migration, with flocks of 0 to 50 being seen. Flocks of bluebirds and blackbirds are also gathering, and nighthawks have been seen migrating south. Monarch, eastern and tiger swallowtail, viceroy and other butterflies have been abundant the past several weeks. Late season flowers like goldenrods, Joe-Pye weed and asters are coming into bloom. Blackberries are ripe in the north. Prairie grasses are providing color in prairie restorations, with the hues of pinkish blue and some reds. And in the north, wild rice is forming seed heads,

North Dakota: Deer Archery Season Opens Sept. 2

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North Dakota’s deer archery season opens Friday, Sept. 2 at noon, and bowhunters are reminded that additional concurrent season antlerless deer gun licenses can be used with a bow during the archery season in the designated hunting unit.

Bowhunters must follow all regulations of the managing agency when using tree stands on public hunting areas, including displaying the owner’s name, address and telephone number on tree stands left unattended on North Dakota Game and Fish Department wildlife management areas.

The Game and Fish Department annually receives inquiries from bowhunters regarding tree stands that are stolen, moved or tampered with. Tree stands are private property and theft constitutes a criminal violation that should be reported to the local sheriff's department.

Bowhunters are also reminded that hunting big game over bait is prohibited on both public and private land in deer unit 3F2.

The archery season is open through Jan. 8, 2012. Hunters should refer to the 2011 deer hunting guide for season information and regulations.