Wisconsin Outdoor Report - Week of 9/1/2011

Pleasant late-summer weather has provided for good recreational conditions in the last week. With the exception of a light rainfall across most of the state earlier this week, most of the state enjoyed dry, sunny weather, which is forecast to continue through the Labor Day weekend, with the possibility of some showers late this week.

Water levels on most rivers and streams are near normal across most of the state, although after nearly two weeks with minimal rainfall, some trout streams are now running low. Northern flowages are at their normal summer levels. The Mississippi has returned to normal summer levels, and the lower Wisconsin River is slightly low, with abundant sandbars available for the holiday weekend.

Fishing activity has been good in the north, with bass and musky the highlight. Nearly all musky anglers are reporting sightings, follows and strikes. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass have also provided good action, and success on largemouth has been especially good. Walleye success has remained fair and panfish activity has been sporadic. Fishing on many southern lakes has been slow due to the recent warm weather, but should improve as water temperatures begin to drop.

On Green Bay, some very good perch fishing continues to be reported on both the west and east shores, though many of the perch have been on the small size. Some good walleye action was reported of Oconto this week, but walleye fishing was generally slower along Door County. Anglers have begun fishing the lower Fox River for musky with some success.

Lake Michigan trollers have begun working areas closer to harbors in search of older chinook salmon that are beginning to stage for fall runs, but many also continued to have success out in deeper water, with mixed bags of mostly chinook and coho salmon, along with some rainbow and lake trout reported. Pier fishing had picked up at Manitowoc and Two Rivers late last week, but slowed with a west wind bringing in cooler water over the weekend. Shore fishing at most southeastern ports has been slow.

September 1 marks the opening of the first fall hunting seasons with early Canada goose and morning dove seasons opening. The early goose season targets locally breeding giant Canada goose populations, whose population state wildlife officials say was up 12 percent this spring with more than 176,000 geese counted during spring waterfowl surveys. The early season now accounts for one-third of the total annual goose harvest in Wisconsin. Hunters scouting for the dove season reported dove numbers were also good.

Bucks are now losing velvet; a buck with polished antlers was seen this week. Nighthawks have been seen migrating in evenings across much of the state. Larger groups of monarchs are being seen along with freshly emerged black swallowtail butterflies and late season dragonflies including the common green darner. Some maples and sumacs have begun changing color.

Wild rice is beginning to ripen on many northern waters, but is a week or so behind average due to the cool weather back in late spring. Aerial surveys conducted by the DNR and the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission found wild rice beds to be only fair to poor in many locations, and officials have already closed some regulated wild rice lakes to ricing this season. Wild rice gatherers should check the wild rice page of DNR website for the latest updates.

North Dakota: Proclamation Signed as a Precaution against Spread of CWD

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The 2011 proclamation establishing guidelines for transporting deer, elk and moose carcasses and carcass parts into and within North Dakota is now in effect as a precaution against the possible spread of chronic wasting disease.

Hunters harvesting a big game animal in North Dakota deer unit 3F2 cannot transport a carcass containing the head and spinal column outside of the unit unless it’s taken directly to a meat processor. The head can be removed from the carcass and transported outside of the unit if it is to be submitted to a CWD surveillance drop-off location or a licensed taxidermist.

In addition, hunting big game over bait is prohibited in deer unit 3F2. Bait, in this case, includes grain, seed, mineral, salt, fruit, vegetable nut, hay or any other natural or manufactured food placed by an individual. Bait does not include agricultural practices, gardens, wildlife food plots, agricultural crops, livestock feeds, fruit or vegetables in their natural location such as apples on or under an apple tree, or unharvested food or vegetables in a garden.

Hunters are prohibited from transporting into North Dakota the whole carcass, or certain carcass parts, of deer, elk, moose or other members of the cervid family from areas within states and provinces with documented occurrences of CWD in wild populations, or from farmed cervid operations within states and provinces that have had farmed cervids diagnosed with CWD. Only the following portions of the carcass can be transported:

• Meat that is cut and wrapped either commercially or privately.
• Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached.
• Meat that has been boned out.
• Hides with no heads attached.
• Clean (no meat or tissue attached) skull plates with antlers attached.
• Antlers with no meat or tissue attached.
• Upper canine teeth, also known as buglers, whistlers or ivories.
• Finished taxidermy heads.

The following game management units, equivalent wildlife management units, or counties have had free-ranging deer, moose or elk diagnosed with CWD, and importation of harvested elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose or other cervids from these areas are restricted.

• North Dakota – Deer unit 3F2. Gutted/eviscerated carcasses being taken to a North Dakota meat processor are exempt, as are heads removed from the carcass and taken to a licensed taxidermist or provided to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department for submission for CWD surveillance purposes.

• Alberta – Wildlife management units 150, 151, 163, 234, 236, 256, 728.
• Colorado – All game management units.

·         Illinois – Counties of Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, DeKalb, Ogle, LaSalle, Stephenson.

·         Kansas – Counties of Cheyenne, Decatur, Rawlins, Sheridan.

·         Minnesota – DPA 602.

·         Nebraska – Upper Platte, Platte, Plains, Sandhills, Frenchman, Buffalo and Pine Ridge units, which include the counties of Cheyenne, Kimball, Sioux, Scotts Bluff, Morrill, Sheridan, Box Butte, Dawes, Banner, Cherry, Hall, Garden, Keith, Red Willow, Deuel, Grant, Arthur.

·         New Mexico – White Sands Missile Base (GMU 19), GMU 28, GMU 34.

·         New York – Any deer taken within the CWD containment areas of Oneida and Madison counties.

·         Saskatchewan – All wildlife management units.

·         South Dakota – Prairie units WRD-21A, WRD-27A, WRD-27B; Black Hills units BHD-BH1, BHD-BD3, BHD-BD4.

·         Utah – 16A, 16B, 16C, 13A, 13B, 8A, 8B, 8C, 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D.

·         Virginia – Frederick County.

·         West Virginia – Hampshire County.

·         Wisconsin – Any deer registered with a Wisconsin DNR Red Registration Tag from the area designated as the Disease Eradication Zone or Herd Reduction Zone including deer management zones 54B-CWD, 70-CWD, 70A-CWD, 70B-CWD, 70C-CWD, 70D-CWD, 70E-CWD, 70F-CWD, 70G-CWD, 71-CWD, 73B-CWD, 73E-CWD, 75A-CWD, 75B-CWD, 75C-CWD, 75D-CWD, 76-CWD, 76A-CWD, 76M-CWD, 77A-CWD, 77B-CWD, 77C-CWD.

·         Wyoming – All deer and elk units.

In addition, the following states and provinces have had farmed deer, elk, moose or other cervids diagnosed with CWD, and importation of farmed deer, elk, moose and other cervid carcasses or their parts are restricted: Alberta, Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New York, Oklahoma, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Additional areas will be added as necessary and listed on the North Dakota Game and Fish Department website, gf.nd.gov.

Because each state and province has its own set of rules and regulations, hunters should contact the state or province in which they will hunt to obtain more information.

Hunters with questions can contact the North Dakota Game and Fish Department at (701) 328-6300, or email ndgf@nd.gov.

North Dakota-Deer Deaths Possible Indicator of EHD

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Wildlife biologists believe recent reports of white-tailed deer deaths in western North Dakota could indicate the presence of epizootic hemorrhagic disease.

Dr. Dan Grove, State Game and Fish Department wildlife veterinarian, said the reports have characteristics similar to previous EHD events, though biologists have not yet confirmed the cause of the deer deaths.

“Deer losses to EHD occur periodically,” Grove said. “Sometimes the incidents are isolated and affect few animals, and in other cases the disease is spread over a large geographic region.”

As of Aug. 30, less than 20 dead deer have been reported in four counties – McKenzie, Hettinger, Slope and Golden Valley.

Game and Fish is urging bow hunters and elk hunters in the field in early September to report any observations of dead deer, Grove said, and to report locations quickly so biologists can gauge distribution and severity. “To isolate the EHD virus, the animal cannot have been dead for more than 24 hours,” he added.

Information needed from each report is the species, age, sex and location. “It would be nice if we could get the legal description of the land, or a GPS coordinate, and a photograph if possible,” Grove said. “At the very least, we will need the number of miles and direction from the closest town.”

EHD primarily affects white-tailed deer, and is most noticeable in western North Dakota when high whitetail populations combine with a hot and humid late summer and early fall. Most deer that die from this are infected before the first hard frost, which kills the biting midges that spread the disease, Grove said.

The last time North Dakota had significant deer deaths from EHD was 2005.

EHD causes dehydration and a high body temperature, causing deer to seek water prior to death. Other clinical and behavior symptoms may include respiratory distress; swelling of head, neck, and tongue; lesions on tongue and roof of mouth; indifference to humans; and in later stages, hemorrhaging from body orifices.

EHD is not a danger to humans. However, hunters should not shoot or consume a deer if it appears sick.

Hunters should report any dead deer observations to the Game and Fish Department at ndgf@nd.gov, or (701) 328-6351.

Wisconsin-2011 fall hunting forecast available

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MADISON -– The 2011 Fall Hunting and Trapping Forecast (PDF, 6.5 MB, 48 pages) is now available. Hunters, trappers and wildlife enthusiasts will find information on upcoming season structures, deer research and wildlife populations, district hunting outlooks and much more.

Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zone hunters will find the latest information on CWD management and seasons and a new websitewww.knowcwd.com (exit DNR). The website has been created to keep hunters and landowners up to date with the latest information available on CWD science, management and impacts. The new website includes a message on CWD from racecar driver and deer hunter, Matt Kenseth.

Hunters will also be seeing a new fall seasons theme in 2011 on television, billboards, in hunting publications and on the knowcwd.com website, called “Hunt. Harvest. Help.”

There is also a good luck message to hunters and trappers from DNR Executive Assistant, Scott Gunderson, known to many simply as “Gundy.”

“As we enter this special time of year, I want to wish everyone who enjoys Wisconsin’s great natural resources, including our wildlife, the best of seasons, the best of luck and a reminder to be safe in all that you do.”

North Dakota: Agencies Prohibit Hunting over Bait

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Hunters are reminded that hunting big game over bait is prohibited on all state owned or managed wildlife management areas, all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service national wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas, U.S. Forest Service national grasslands, and all North Dakota state school, state park and state forest service lands.

In addition, the governor’s proclamation relating to chronic wasting disease includes a provision that prohibits hunting big game over bait on both public and private land in deer unit 3F2.

Hunting over bait is defined as the placement and/or use of baits for attracting big game and other wildlife to a specific location for the purpose of hunting.

Baits include but are not limited to grains, minerals, salts, fruits, vegetables, hay or any other natural or manufactured foods. It does not apply to the use of scents and lures, water, food plots, standing crops or livestock feeds being used in standard practices.

North Dakota: Second, Third Deer License Drawing Delayed

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Hunters waiting for their second and third deer lottery results shouldn’t have to wait much longer.

State Game and Fish Department staff worked well into the night on Friday to hold the second lottery drawing and print those licenses, according to Kim Molesworth, administrative services division chief for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

The third lottery for concurrent season antlerless deer licenses is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, Aug. 30, with licenses likely mailed on Wednesday, Aug. 31.

“We apologize for the delay,” Molesworth stated. “We know that some bowhunters are anxious to get their concurrent season licenses to use when archery season opens Sept. 2. We’re trying to get those out as soon as possible.”

Bowhunters who are travelling through Bismarck prior to the opener, and don’t want to risk not receiving their license before they leave, can call or email the department’s Bismarck office by noon on Wednesday, Aug. 31 to request us to hold their license, Molesworth said. Game and Fish would then hold the license at its Bismarck office until the hunter picked it up.

Contact the Bismarck Game and Fish licensing section office at (701) 328-6335, or emailndgf@nd.gov and write “Hold concurrent season license” in the subject line.

Game and Fish will mail gratis licenses after the third lottery drawing is held.

The second and subsequent lottery drawings were later than usual this year because of the one-week extension of the deer application deadline, and an initial shipment of special license paper that didn’t meet specifications, Molesworth said. The second shipment of paper arrived in early August, Molesworth added, and the first lottery licenses were printed and mailed first.

After the third lottery drawing is held, Game and Fish will issue any remaining licenses on a first-come, first-served basis.

Hunters can use additional concurrent season doe licenses during the archery season with a bow; the deer gun season with a bow, rifle, or muzzleloader; or during the muzzleloader season with a muzzleloader. These licenses are for antlerless deer only, and hunters must stay in the unit to which the license is assigned.

In addition, youth deer license hunters ages 14 and 15 may purchase additional concurrent season doe licenses to use during the youth season.

South Dakota HuntSAFE Classes

Image via WikipediaAlcester HuntSAFE Class Announced

A HuntSAFE class is scheduled for Alcester on Sept. 7th, 10th, and 14th at the Alcester Fire Department.  The free class will run from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Sept. 7th and 14th and from 8 a.m. to noon on the 10th.

Graduation from the HuntSAFE class is mandatory for any hunter, aged 12-15, who wants to be eligible to purchase a license for the upcoming South Dakota hunting seasons.  Those youngsters who turn 12 before Dec. 31 are eligible.

For more information, contact Conservation Officer Jeremy Roe at 605-987-2271

Blunt HuntSAFE Class Announced

A HuntSAFE class will be held at the Oahe Electric Conference Room in Blunt, Sept. 6-9.  The free class will run from 6-9 p.m. each evening.

Graduation from the HuntSAFE class is mandatory for any hunter, aged 12-15, who wants to be eligible to purchase a license for the upcoming South Dakota hunting seasons.  Those youngsters who turn 12 before Dec. 31 are eligible.

For more information, contact John at 962-6320, Derek at 962-6122 or Dennis at 962-6172

Wall HuntSAFE Class Announced

A HuntSAFE class will be held at the West River Electric Conference room in Wall on Sept. 9-10.  The class will run from 6-9 p.m. on the 9th and  9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the 10th.

Graduation from the HuntSAFE class is mandatory for any hunter, aged 12-15, who wants to be eligible to purchase a license for the upcoming South Dakota hunting seasons.  Those youngsters who turn 12 before Dec. 31 are eligible.

For more information contact Conservation Officer Jamin Hartland at 279-2078


Vermillion HuntSAFE Class Announced

A HuntSAFE class will be held in the basement of the Vermillion Public Safety, Sept. 6-8 and 10.  The class will run from 6:30 – 9 p..m. on the 6-8th and will begin at 9 a.m. on the 10th.

Graduation from the HuntSAFE class is mandatory for any hunter, aged 12-15, who wants to be eligible to purchase a license for the upcoming South Dakota hunting seasons.  Those youngsters who turn 12 before Dec. 31 are eligible.

To Pre-register call 624-2021