Category: Chamber News

Complete DNR Outdoor Report (Reports from conservation wardens, wildlife and fisheries staff and property managers from around the state)

Recent snowfalls improve conditions for winter recreation; ice good for second annual free winter fishing weekend

The entire state has received some new snow in the last week and more was falling Thursday. Snowmobile trails were open and in good to very good condition across about the northern two-thirds of the state, but were still closed in many southern counties according to the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR). Cross-country ski trails were open and in good to excellent condition across the north and in fair to good condition in many places in the south.

The recent snowfall was heaviest in a band through central Wisconsin, giving the area from Eau Claire to Door County some of the best winter conditions of the season so far. State parks in Door County were reporting 9 to 18 inches of snow on the ground and all ski trails groomed and tracked. Hoffman Hills State Recreation Area in Dunn County and the Red Cedar State Trail were also groomed and tracked and in very good condition. Ski trails in the northern and Pike Lake units of the Kettle Moraine State Forest were in good condition while the southern and Lapham Peak units were fair.

Milder temperatures in the last week made it much more pleasant for ice anglers, but fishing action seemed to enter the mid-winter winter doldrums in the Northwoods with action slowing for most species. Ice depths have been holding in the 14 to 16 inch range on northern lakes, and some lakes now have an inch or two of slush under the deep snow.

Panfish action remained fair to good on southern Wisconsin lakes and on lower Wisconsin River sloughs. The below zero temperatures of a week ago froze over the main channel of the Mississippi River near lock and dam 11 ice and allowed ice anglers to access the main channel to fish sauger, with reports of limit catches of sauger 14-17 inches in length.

The cold also allowed ice on southern Green Bay to firm up in most areas. Shanties have begun to dot the shores like small villages with 16-20 inches of ice being found in most places. Anglers have had more success with whitefish and some perch, and an occasional walleye being caught. Along southern Lake Michigan, anglers at McKinley Marina in Milwaukee reported ice depths up to 12 inches, with brown trout being taken through the ice. A few steelhead and brown trout have also reported in the Sheboygan, Port Washington and Racine harbors.

This coming weekend, Jan. 18-19, Wisconsin residents and visitors alike can fish anywhere in the state without a fishing license on during the state’s second annual winter Free Fishing Weekend. Free fishing clinics offered at several state parks and ice fishing equipment available for loan from many state parks and offices statewide make it even easier for people to try Wisconsin’s hard water fishing. For more information search the DNR website for “Free Fishing Weekend.”

Also this weekend the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center will be holding a candlelight ski and hike and the fresh snow was very timely for the annual family ski and snowshoe hike Peninsula State Park in Door County. For information about these and other events at parks, forest, trails and recreation areas search the DNR website for “get outdoors.”

A prolonged period of frigid temperatures dropping down into the double-digit subzero range at night and just above zero during the day have put the freeze on many activities across Wisconsin in the last week. That is expected to change with temperatures forecast to rise into the 30s by this weekend.

Very little new snow has fallen in the last week, with only the far north receiving 2 to 3 inches last weekend. Snow depths now range from 4 to 6 inches in the south to 2 to 3 feet in the far north. Snowmobile trails are open in most northern counties and range from good to excellent condition, according to the Department snow conditions report. Snowmobile trails are open in some central and southern counties, with conditions ranging from fair to poor.

Cross-country ski trails are also in good to excellent condition in the north, but many trails in the south are also in need of new snow, with a lot of debris being reported on trails.

Action was pretty slow on most other Northwoods lakes that now have about 14 inches of ice with 4 to 8 inches of snow on top. One good thing about the severe cold temperatures is that very little slush is reported on lakes, but that could change with the warm-up in the forecast.

Green Bay has fairly good ice cover with reports of some shanties now as far as a half a mile to a mile off shore. Anglers were using minnows and are hoping to catch whitefish, perch, northern pike, and walleye, but with limited success. The Winnebago system has pretty good ice but with high winds the ice can shift and cracks open and close. Anglers on Lake Winnebago can experience crossing a frozen crack in the morning only to find it is open 4-feet wide when leaving. There has been some success for crappies, perch, bluegill and whitefish.

The cold spell concentrated wild turkeys into large winter flocks. These flocks tend to roam over several square miles of habitat in search of food. The cold is also making for excellent bald eagle watching as eagles are congregated around what open water they can find below dams. Very few ducks and geese remain but some mergansers, goldeneyes and scaup are being seen along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Most ducks are in bright breeding plumage and now is a good time to watch them do their annual courtship rituals.

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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.

The departures of the many snowbirds create volunteer opportunities at Community Memorial Hospital. Openings are available in various areas of the hospital such as patient escorts, nutrition services, and information services. Other opportunities include helping out at special events and projects.

“Whatever your background, interests, or talent, there are ways you can help. We have men and women from all backgrounds, young and old.” said CMH Auxiliary volunteer chairperson Steve Carrico. “Volunteer service is personally rewarding and it enriches our community.”

Job-seekers and students can gain valuable experience serving in volunteer roles.

To learn more, those interested should contact Steve Carrico at (920) 621-7572 or scarrico65@gmail.com. Volunteers have the opportunity to participate in hospital-sponsored functions and receive other benefits including a pharmacy discount.

The CMH Auxiliary supports Community Memorial Hospital through volunteer service and fundraising projects.

Fall colors will be peaking in southern Wisconsin within the next week, with only some stubborn maples and oaks hanging on to their summer colors. In northern Wisconsin the recent rain and heavy wind has all but nearly knocked most leaves off of trees, but the tamarack trees are making up for them with their increasing gold color. Leaf drop is providing for some better archery hunting and upland bird hunting. Morning frost in forecast for some areas of the state will provide for more leaf drop, along with the oaks beginning to turn to their fall reds and bronze.

The reopening of the southern zone duck season proved successful for many hunters last weekend with ducks in nearly everyone’s bag. Some diving ducks, mostly ring-necks and canvasbacks have been seen throughout the state. Diving duck migration should continue as more seasonal temperatures arrive. Some more exotic birds such as trumpeter swans, egrets, and large flocks of cormorants have been seen around the Mississippi River.

Last weekend brought several hunting season openers. On Saturday Oct. 19 the pheasant and bobwhite quail season will be opening statewide at noon. Many state properties are going to be stocked of pheasant for the opener. Southern area cottontail, statewide raccoon and fox seasons will also be opening. Several trapping seasons will be opening this Saturday as well. isconsin’s second wolf season kicked of Tuesday morning, with a few successful hunts being confirmed in northern Wisconsin and also one in Columbia County.

Wardens and biologists from across the state are reporting that the classic signs of the pre rut are starting to show with many rubs and scrapes are beginning to cover Wisconsin’s landscape. Smaller bucks are reported to be chasing doe, and there has been many large bucks harvested. In Sauk County, a buck harvested by bow and arrow was unofficially scored at 196. Look for cooler temperatures and the harvesting of crops to create more deer movement.

The Lake Michigan tributaries have been host to some heavy action for salmon. Perch and walleye have also been providing for good fishing across the state as water temperatures drop.

Anglers fishing the structure below the dam at Stiles caught some bluegill and crappies using slip bobbers and minnows or leaf worms. Chinook were caught near the Iron Bridge on the Oconto River using spawn sacks, spoons and stick baits and wooly buggers. Perch were caught in the Breakwater Park and Oconto Park II landings using minnows or chunks of crawlers. – Kevin King, creel clerk