The rut, or white-tailed deer mating season is now at or near peak across Wisconsin and bucks have been very active during daylight hours, moving frequently to follow does and may seem unaware of the presence of vehicles. Drivers should be use extreme caution this time of year on rural roadways and even in more urban areas.
Archery deer hunters are reporting that bucks are responding to rattling and grunt calls and that hunting has been excellent with visibility in the woods greatly improved. With the opening of the gun deer season now just a little over a week away, hunters should be checking over and sighting in firearms and inspecting ammunition to make sure everything is in condition.
Temperatures were above the seasonal average across much of the state this week. The ice that began forming last week on small lakes and bays in the north has receded due to the warm temperatures and sunshine. Fishing activity has tapered off considerably across the Northwoods. A few musky anglers have been out trying their luck and have had minimal success. Lake walleye anglers have pretty much given up until there is some ice cover, but some river anglers are still reporting fair success. Anglers were catching some northern pike and muskies on southern lakes.
Perch activity has been good on Lake Winnebago, and perch fishing on Green Bay continued to be good. Water levels are low on Lake Michigan tributaries, but some brown trout, steelhead, and even some chinooks remain in the upstream portions of rivers. There was still moderate fishing pressure walk along the Milwaukee River upstream of the former North Avenue dam. Good numbers of salmon and a few trout were still being found throughout the upstream portions of the Root River.
The Mississippi River stayed pretty steady this week hovering in the mid 6-foot range. The lower Wisconsin River is very low too. Large masses of floating celery grass have been floating down the Mississippi River, causing problems at boat landings, making fishing difficult and clogging lower units. Walleye and sauger action slowed considerably this week.
Duck hunters have reported seeing an influx of northern diving ducks into Mississippi River pools 10 and 11. Pheasant hunters are happy to see that standing corn has started to be harvested. Since opening day, pheasant hunting on stocked public hunting grounds has been very good. Raccoon populations are very high throughout the state and cause considerable damage and nuisance problems in rural, suburban, and urban areas. Raccoon hunters have reported successful harvests over the last several weeks. Raccoon trapping activity is also increasing. In 2005, hunters and trappers harvested close to 245,000 raccoons in Wisconsin.
Large numbers of tundra swans have been seen along the Mississippi River and the shores of Green Bay. Peak swan numbers are expected in a week or so. Rough-legged hawks and snow buntings have migrated in with the cold weather. A northern shrike was seen this week in the Brule area. This bird migrates down from the arctic to winter over in the northern half of the United States. Shrikes are known to impale their food such as insects, rodents, other birds on thorns. Because of this, they are also known as butcher birds.
Volunteers have been busy at parks and forests clearing trails for cross-country skiing and snowmobile club members are marking and clearing trails in hopes of a snow-filled winter. Recent warm weather has brought out lots of hikers to state forests. Remember state forests are managed differently than parks and many areas in state forests are open to hunting, so hikers, mountain bikers and other forest visitors are encouraged to wear blaze orange or other brightly colored clothing.
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NORTHERN REGION
Superior DNR Service Center area
Brule River State Forest - The northland has been treated to some mild, fall weather lately. The high temperatures are expected to start cooling down to the mid to upper 30s. Low temperatures are expected to be in the 20s. Chances of rain/snow are forecasted through the weekend. The Brule National Weather Service Work Station has measured 0.16 inches of rain in the past few days. This has helped bring the Bois Brule River up to 106 cubic feet per second (cfs). This level is still on the low side as the 60 year average is 152 cfs. A northern shrike was seen this week. Like the snow bunting, this bird migrates down from the arctic to winter over in the northern half of the United States. Shrikes are known to impale their food (insects, rodents, other birds…) on thorns. Because of this, they are also known as butcher birds. The public is invited to the 10th annual Hunters’ Expo at the Mission Covenant Church in Poplar on Nov. 15. It will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. There will be numerous wildlife mounts, hunting booths, great wild food, and of course....lots of hunting stories! Anglers are reminded that the fishing season on the Bois Brule River remains open north of Highway 2 to Lake Superior through Nov. 15.
Park Falls DNR Service Center area
Temperatures are above the seasonal average in the Park Falls area though cooler temperatures are forecast for the weekend. The ice that was beginning to form has receded the past few days due to the warm temperatures and sunshine. Many outdoor activities are in full swing and it’s a great time to be enjoying the outdoors. Fishing activity has tapered off considerably since the last cold snap and most anglers have switched to other outdoor activities. Whitetail bucks are very active during daylight hours as the rut is underway. Use caution while driving where deer are near roadways. Bucks are moving frequently following does and may seem unaware of the presence of vehicles. Archery hunters are finding bucks responding to rattling and grunt calls. Beaver and Otter season opened and trappers have been working in the wetlands. A few fisher have been trapped and registered in the Park Falls area. Grouse hunters are finding some grouse in areas that were clear cut in the last few years and have heavy aspen regeneration.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - With the unseasonably cold weather of the past week, many small lakes in the area formed some early ice cover. However, milder temperatures during the last few days melted this ice and nearly all lakes and ponds are back to an open-water condition. Fishing pressure has been generally light across the Northwoods as most people seem to be keying in on the buck rut. A few musky anglers have been out trying their luck and have had minimal success. They are seeing a few follows and getting some short strikes on their suckers and slow-moving glide baits, but the cold water temperatures have made the fish very reluctant to hit. Walleye anglers have pretty much given up until there is some ice cover, but a few river anglers have reported some fair success on small fish.
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NORTHEAST REGION
Peshtigo DNR Service Center area
Marinette County - Whitetail deer rut has begun with observations of bucks chasing does and scrapes and rubs increasing. Ice that was forming on inland lakes is again receding due to the warm up this week. All hunters are urged to check over their firearms and ammo to make sure everything is in top condition. The fire danger in the woods is moderate at this time. Please use caution with cooking fires, do not leave them unattended or smoldering. Also be prepared to carryout what you carry in on public lands.
Oconto County - Deer rut is in full swing. Some of the smaller lakes were froze over, but reopened with the warmer weather. Walleye fishing is picking up. A few diver ducks have migrated south into the area. Trappers have been successful running trap lines for muskrat, mink and raccoon with fisher also being trapped steadily. In the Southern portion of Oconto county a large number of swans are along the shores of Green Bay. They make for some great bird watching. There are also a large number of ducks still in the area and hunters are reporting some good success. Deer seem to be in the rut with a number of hunters commenting on bucks chasing does. Motorists should also be cautious as deer are on the move and vehicle deer collisions are on the rise. Perch fishing on the bay continues to be good with limits being caught. Shore anglers are also having some success at Oconto Breakwater Park and Oconto County North Bayshore Recreation Area. Minnows are the preferred bait.
Shawano County - Waterfowl hunting has been very good on area lakes, with some northern birds showing up. White-tailed deer activity has increased, with deer in the rut and deer hunting has been excellent. Vehicle drivers should be cautious and look for deer along the roadways. Leaves are falling and small game hunters are having a great fall. Now is the time to get out and enjoy the season. Rough-legged hawks and snow buntings have migrated in with the cold weather. There are fewer sandhill cranes now, but still some around. Buck Fever Night will be on Nov. 14 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Shawano County Highway Dept. shop on Richmond Street. This family event has something for everyone, including kids. DNR staff will be available to answer questions. with the rut. Be careful driving at night with the high population of deer in this area, especially at dawn and dusk.
Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area
Door County
Peninsula State Park - All hiking and biking trails are in great shape. Sections of the Sunset Bike trail are being graded and re-surfaced this fall. Water levels in Green Bay are still very low. The Tennison Bay campground is open year-round. Only vault toilets and a central water supply are available. Peninsula is open to deer hunting Nov. 18-26. Only black powder firearms are permitted. Hunters must possess a 2006 Hunter Access Permit for Unit 80C. Some permits are still available. Approximately 75 percent of the park is open to hunting; however, many areas of the park remain open to cars, bicycles and hiking. Obtain a map at park headquarters for details. A new book about the history of Peninsula State Park, aptly titled, "The Park" is now available at the park's visitor centers. Another Peninsula History book, "Door County's Emerald Treasure" by Professor William Tishler is now on sale as well. Call (920) 854-5976 for more information.
Potawatomi State Park - The South Loops of the campground are now open to first-come, first served campers as of Nov. 1. Although most water supplies have been turned off for the winter, campers have year-round access to potable water at a well located near the campground shelter. Campers may dump (but will not be able to flush their tanks) at the dump station. The launching docks and accessible pier will be pulled from the water in early November. The park's 75-foot observation tower got a new coat of stain this past week and will be open to the public until the snow flies. Volunteer cross-country trail groomers have been clearing and improving the ski trails in November. Snowmobile club members are marking sled trails in hopes of a snow-filled winter.
Oshkosh DNR Service Center area
Upper Fox-Wolf basin fisheries report - Since the beginning of the fall hunting seasons, fishing in and around Lake Winnebago has slowed down considerably. However, walleye activity has been reported at the mouth of the Rat River. Walleyes were also being found up and down the Wolf River. Bait of choice appears to be large shiners. Panfish have been active in channels of Lake Winneconne. Perch activity in Lake Winnebago has been pretty good on shiners.
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SOUTHEAST REGION
Milwaukee DNR Service Center
Pheasant hunters are rejoicing that some of the huge amount of standing corn has started to be harvested. Since opening day, pheasant hunting on stocked public hunting grounds has been very good; especially for those with a decent dog. Recent warm weather has brought out lots of hikers to the Kettle Moraine. All hiking and biking trails are open. White-tailed deer activity along roads remains strong. Especially at night be aware of deer movement and avoid a costly accident.
Sheboygan County – In Sheboygan action in the harbor and off the piers has been slow. On the Sheboygan River water levels are relatively low, but fish are still being caught near the Kohler dam. Browns, steelhead, and even some chinooks remain in the upstream portions of the river. Most fish have been caught on yarn flies or spawn.
Ozaukee County – In Port Washington shore fishing has been slow. The discharge at the power plant has been turned off, and in that area only a few browns have been caught on spawn.
Milwaukee County – In Milwaukee, water levels are low on all area tributaries. Although the salmon run on the Milwaukee River is waning, there was still moderate fishing pressure walk along 4 miles of the river upstream of the former North Avenue dam on Saturday afternoon. Approximately 50 fishers were observed and all those interviewed reported success for salmon and fewer numbers of rainbow trout. Some steelhead were still being found in the deeper holes toward the southern end of Kletzsch Park, and salmon were still being caught by fly anglers in the Hubbard Park area. Anglers at the Milwaukee lakefront have been catching some nice perch and a few browns by the Summerfest grounds. Most of the perch have been biting in the late morning, and minnows have been the most effective bait. When the weather cooperates, Milwaukee trollers have been catching good numbers of chinooks and browns on spoons in 50 to 70 feet of water.
Havenwoods State Forest - Juncos, tree sparrows, bluebirds, and a great blue heron have been seen. A Cooper's hawk was seen chasing a great horned owl. Muskrats are building houses in ponds on the property. To the surprise of many observers, between eight and ten large chinook salmon have been seen in the retention ponds that feed from Lincoln Creek.
Racine County – In Racine, fish were processed at the Root River Steelhead Facility on Monday, Nov. 6. More than 12,000 fish have been handled at the facility so far this season, including 10,223 chinooks, 1,210 coho, 523 steelhead, and 92 browns. Crews plan to process fish again next week. On the Root River, flows are relatively low and the water clarity has improved. Good numbers of salmon and a few trout were still being found throughout the upstream portions of the river from the Steelhead Facility to the Horlick dam. Yarn eggs, wooly buggers, and egg sucking leeches have all been effective. Action has also been good downstream of the weir in Lincoln Park, where more browns have been caught along with a few coho and steelhead. Brown and black flies have been productive. Island Park has been holding browns consistently, and spawn drifted under a bobber has produced fish, in addition to yarn flies and egg sucking leeches.
Kenosha County – In Kenosha, most action has been in the small boat harbor, where browns have been taken on spawn. Anglers have been catching fish from the Best Western all the way to the boat launch.
Walworth and inland Racine and Kenosha counties – Unseasonably cold and windy weather slowed fishing activity. Northern pike anglers were catching a few on suckers fished near the bottom. Anglers were catching some walleyes in shallow water at night on plastic jigs. Yellow perch have been biting on minnows and night crawler pieces in 20 to 25 feet of water.
Washington, eastern Fond du Lac, and inland Sheboygan counties – A fair number of anglers have still been out looking for muskies on Random and Big Elkhart lakes in Sheboygan County. Anglers were seeing a fair number of muskies but, not connecting. Panfish action has been slow with the water temperatures near the mid 40s and dropping. As temperatures go down, it is important to reduce the size of bait and hooks. Many panfish anglers switch over to ice fishing jigs tipped with small bait as the water cools down. Slow down on the presentations also. Remember that fish are cold blooded animals that simply slow down with lower temperatures.
Kettle Moraine State Forest, Southern Unit – As of Nov. 8, mountain bike trails were open. For the current conditions please call the hotline number is (262) 594-6202. The forecast shows rain for the weekend so call before coming to check on the current conditions. Being a state forest hunting is allowed in the Kettle Moraine, and wearing "blaze orange" or brightly colored clothing is recommended.
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SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
Dodgeville DNR Service Center area
Grant County - Fishing has been slow on the Mississippi River. Several anglers have noted that walleye and sauger fishing is almost non-existent the last few days as they have trolled the local wing dams with no success. Duck hunters have reported seeing an influx of mallards and other northern diving ducks into Mississippi River pools 10 and 11.
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WEST CENTRAL REGION
Baldwin DNR Service Center area
St. Croix County
Willow River State Park - There are no open hunting seasons inside the park boundaries until Saturday, Nov. 18. Hikers need to be aware that some trails border the open hunting area and one is completely contained within a hunting area. Most hunting activity will occur on the opening weekend. Most hunters prefer the hours that are low light. Bright clothing is suggested for hikers during the gun hunting season if you are using a trial in or near a hunting area. The deer are very active now and may be seen any time even on bright sunny days. Willow River has an area open for deer hunting during the nine day gun season (no rifles) beginning Saturday, Nov. 18, and the late archery season. The open area is north of the Willow River and some undeveloped land east of Burkhardt. Pick up a map at the park office. A daily admission or annual sticker is required on your vehicle to hunt in the park. Willow River is in an Earn a Buck zone. Make certain you have the correct tags / and a buck sticker if you qualify. Tags and deer registration are available at the nearby gas station in Burkhardt. Open areas will be posted the week of Nov. 18. The group camp parking lot is closed to visitor vehicles. Do not move or drive around the barricades. The parking area is expected to be open for winter use. Trails through the group camp are open to hikers until ski season. Water is turned off and all flush toilet buildings are closed for the season. Pit toilets are open near the beach, the boat launch parking lot, and near site 63 in the campground. Water for trailers or portable containers is available at the service building just down the hill from the park office. The dump station remains open to unload tanks only until freeze up. The campground road will be closed to vehicles when snow falls. The Willow River Nordic dry land cross country ski training group meets at the Nature Center Wednesday evenings at 5:30 p.m. A park sticker is required on your vehicle. A small fee is charged for those that are not members of the Willow River OWLs. Participants (age 13 and older) need good trail shoes, clothing appropriate for the weather, ski poles, and a headlamp (required with the change to Standard time.) Bring a sports drink since these sessions are physical fitness training. Saturday, Nov. 11 will be a ski trail brushing day for the Willow River Nordic skiers along with a work day for the Willow River OWLs, the park’s Friends group. Trail brushing work is welcome any time and not limited to skiers only. For more information on the Willow River Nordic ski training or work events, call (715) 386-5931.
La Crosse DNR Service Center area
Raccoon hunters have reported successful harvests over the last several weeks. Raccoon trapping activity is also increasing. In 2005, hunters and trappers harvested close to 245,000 raccoons in Wisconsin. Raccoon populations are very high throughout the state and cause considerable damage and nuisance problems in rural, suburban, and urban areas. Tundra swan numbers rapidly increased late last week. Viewing opportunities are very good. The best area is a couple miles south of Brownsville, Minnesota. Peak swan numbers are expected in a week or so.
Crawford County - The Mississippi River stayed pretty steady this week hovering in the mid 6-foot range. The river stage bottomed out at 6.5 feet a week ago and has since come up to around 6.6 feet. Waterfowl hunters continue to find that navigating in back water areas was very difficult once the duck season re-opened last weekend. Anglers were also finding wing dams and closures that are dangerously in reach of lower units. The Wisconsin River is very low right now. The Kickapoo River is about normal for this time of year. Large masses of floating celery grass (aka eel grass) have been floating down river. It is causing problems at boat landing, makes fishing difficult and gets caught in lower units. Bluegill action was spotty again this week. Many bluegill anglers are switching over to bobbers tipped with ice fishing jigs and wax worms. Crappie fishing has been spotty but some have been found along weed beds and in the downed tree tops. Minnows are starting to produce well as have small jigs tipped with twister tails or crawlers. Perch action continued to be slow. Walleye fishing continues to improve with water cooling down. Some action was being reported on the wing dams and deeper sloughs on minnows. The Roseau Slough produced some fish this week but it was spotty also. The area around the Lansing Dike (Big Slough and the Winneshiek Slough) produced some fish. Most were drifting with jigs and minnows. Largemouth and smallmouth bass action was fair this week. Bass anglers are finding active fish all over the Prairie du Chien area in Pool 10. In Pool 9 bass have been taken from Lynxville to Lansing. Most anglers have been using plastics, crank baits, or spinner baits. Catfish action has slowed. Duck hunting is starting to improve. The Lower Wisconsin River produced a few wood ducks, mallards, and teal. Hunting in the Prairie du Chien was also a little better than last week. The Lower Bottoms (Wisconsin River Delta) produced mallards, pintail, wigeon, gadwall, teal and wood ducks. The Ambro complex produced teal, wood ducks and some mallards also. Hunters in Pool 9 reported good success with mallards and other dabbling ducks while others had poor success. In the Ferryville-Lansing area success was average with a few mallards, some pintails, gadwall, and widgeon were in the area. In the main body of Pool 9 some divers are showing up. Canvasback, scaup, ring, and bufflehead are present in pretty good numbers. Canada Goose hunters report fair amount of geese in the area. Archery deer hunters report very good activity. Visibility in the woods is great and the rut is on. Some very nice bucks have been killed this week to include some in the 170-inch class range. Most archery hunters report seeing bucks chasing does. Some archery hunters are filling their antlerless tags with does. White Pelicans are still around but in fewer numbers. Pool 9 near Lynxville and Ferryville has good numbers of pelicans. Cormorants are also using Pool 9 in large numbers. Thousands of canvasbacks and other diver ducks along with mallards, gadwall, and widgeon have moved into the Pool 9 area. Not much left for fall colors, only brown oak leaves. A lot of the soybeans in the area have been picked, but a lot of standing corn remains in the fields.
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