Some parts of far northern Wisconsin received up to several inches of snow last weekend, with the Hurley area in Iron County reporting 5 inches, but the snow cover had all melted by mid week. Leaf drop is now nearly complete in southern Wisconsin, with mostly oaks still holding leaves. Smaller lakes, bays and ponds in the north have continued their trend toward ice up. Water temperatures have fallen into the low 40s and, with single-digit temperatures in the last few nights, some ponds and small lakes have developed a thin layer of skim ice. A few of the larger lakes do have some shoreline ice in the shallow back bays, but full ice cover is still a couple of weeks away.
Wisconsin’s regular nine-day gun deer season is now just over a week away, so this weekend is the last opportunity for hunters to sight in firearms and make sure hunting gear and clothing are ready for opening weekend. Most reports from across the state indicate the deer rut, or mating season, is near its peak this week. The November 22 opening this year is one of the latest opening days possible, so deer will likely be at the end of the rut or in post rut conditions. This weekend is also the last weekend for early season archery deer hunters and turkey hunters, with both seasons closing Thursday, November 20. And a reminder that it is illegal to hunt with a firearm the day before the gun deer season opens, except for waterfowl hunting or hunting on licensed game farms or shooting preserves.
Seasonably cold weather has kept fishing pressure to a minimum and only a few die-hard anglers have been venturing out on local waters. Most of the fishing pressure continues to be for musky and nearly all of these late-season musky anglers are dragging large suckers around. Success has been fair, with a few catches of 36 to 40-inch fish have been reported, but several anglers have said that the musky just seem to be hitting and dropping the suckers. A few walleye anglers have also been sighted, but action has been generally slow.
Along Lake Michigan shore anglers fishing off the piers have been catching a few brown trout, rainbow trout and coho salmon. A few coho and browns were still being caught on the Manitowoc River. Shore anglers in Milwaukee have been catching a few browns and chinooks. Anglers on the Milwaukee River have reported a few salmon.
There were 9,596 Lake Winnebago sturgeon spearing licenses sold for the 2009 spearing season. That number is up considerably from the 8,782 licenses sold for the 2008 season. There were 4,031 Upriver Lakes Sturgeon applications were sold this year.
The Mississippi River rose almost 8 inches by the end of last week reaching the 7.6 foot stage. However, the river quickly dropped back down to the 7.0 foot mark by early this week. Crappie action ws really picking up on the river, but walleye and sauger action was spotty.
Waterfowl hunters were reporting fair numbers of mallards, gadwall, widgeon, bluebill, bufflehead, redhead, and ring-necks along the Mississippi River.
Gold finches, purple finches, chickadees, juncos, tufted titmice, blue jays and a few cardinals are regular visitors at bird feeders. Tundra swan numbers are increasing rapidly along the Mississippi. The next few weeks should offer excellent viewing opportunities until the river is frozen over. Tundras are also numerous on Green Bay.
An irruption of snowy owls is still being reported in Wisconsin. The owls are likely being found here due to a drop in the rodent population that they depend on in their normal arctic habitat. Several snowy owls in the Oconto area have been taken in for rehabilitation due to starvation. Birders are reminder to not disturb owls by only viewing them from a distance.
And a sure sign that bike trail riding season is coming to a close, the three tunnels on the popular Elroy-Sparta State Trail were closed for the season this week. Snowmobilers using the trail are routed around the tunnels in the winter.
A three-minute audio version of this report can be heard by calling (608) 266 2277.
A new report is put on the line each week.
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NORTHERN REGION
Park Falls DNR Service Center area
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - Seasonably cold weather has kept fishing pressure to a minimum and only a few die-hard anglers have been venturing out on local waters. Most of the fishing pressure continues to be for musky and nearly all of these late-season musky anglers are dragging large suckers around. Success has been fair, with a few catches of 36 to 40-inch fish have been reported, but several anglers have said that the musky just seem to be hitting and dropping the suckers. A few walleye anglers have also been sighted, but action has been generally slow. Water temperatures have fallen into the low 40s and, with single-digit temperatures in the last few nights, some ponds and small lakes have developed a thin layer of skim ice. A few of the larger lakes do have some shoreline ice in the shallow back bays, but full ice cover is still a couple of weeks away.
Woodruff DNR Service Center area
Smaller lakes, bays and ponds continue their trend toward ice up, and with the colder evening temperatures this past week this process should speed up considerably. The snow that fell during the week is now sparse and with predicted warmer weather it may just melt later this week. Anglers have only another couple of weeks left to get out onto the larger lakes and enjoy the final days of fall fishing in the area. Open water fishing activity continues to remain constant, with muskies aggressively feeding prior to ice up. Buck activity appears to be in mid rut with reports of scent trailing occurring at this time. For those deer hunters who will be hunting during the nine-day gun/deer season, a change in the law allows you to purchase your license after the season has opened. A new rule this year requires ground blinds used on state lands to have 144 square inches of blaze orange material visible for 360 degrees. Please refer to the hunting regulations pamphlet or contact a DNR Service Center for more details. As we continue with hunting season, those outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hiking and walking the woods in the fall should remember to wear blaze orange for safety. Please consider the areas where hiking/walking is planned so as not to place yourself at risk. Waterfowl reports improved this past week with greater numbers of migrating birds now in the area. This week predicted “warmer” temperatures will more than likely keep these birds here for a while so take advantage while you can.
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NORTHEAST REGION
Peshtigo DNR Service Center area
Marinette County - Colder weather is on its way along with variable precipitation. Fishing pressure is low with outdoorsmen and women gearing up for the coming gun deer season beginning November 22. Sight in your rifles early and check your ammunition stock to avoid last minute trips to the range or sport shop. Be prepared for the unexpected beginning with a first aid kit, flashlights and warm clothing. Scout the area you plan to hunt ahead of time for deer activity and lay of the land. Keep safety for yourself and your hunting party a primary objective. Deer activity has increased this week with scrapes and rubs observed in the field. Birdfeeders are very active with juncos, nuthatches, jays and chickadees. Black oil sunflower seeds are an all around favorite along with the variety of suet blocks.
Oconto County - The Tundra swans will remain on the bay of Green Bay until water freeze up. Several snowy owls have been taken in for rehabilitation due to starvation. Biologists believe their primary food source in the tundra, lemmings, are at a low in its population cycle. The migration of these owls and hawks south is earlier than usual this year. Rough legged hawks have been seen in the area and snow buntings are early also. Grouse hunters are having good success with the birds hunting in cut over aspen areas. Turkey season will be closing November 20 for hunters that have not filled their tags yet.
Wautoma DNR Service Center area
People are urged to be careful when driving, as deer continue to rut. Small animals that den up have started to do so. Cranes and waterfowl are still moving through the state, but most other migrations are done.
Oshkosh DNR Service Center area
This week fish staff dove into the frigid 43-degree Wolf River in hopes of bringing up some flathead catfish to assess and tag. Catfish stop feeding in the winter and gather in deep pools, settling in the muddy bottom. They become very lethargic and go into semihibernation, which makes them easy to locate and bring up. Fish staff also accompanied a commercial carp seiner on the south shore of Lake Butte des Morts in hopes of implanting sonic and radio tags into any sturgeon that were brought up. They also hoped to get a few muskies tagged in the process. There were 9,596 Lake Winnebago sturgeon spearing licenses sold for the 2009 spearing season. That number is up considerably from the 8,782 licenses sold for the 2008 season. There were 4,031 Upriver Lakes Sturgeon applications were sold this year. A car killed buck in Eastern Fond du Lac County had a 10-point rack which measured in with a 21.5-inch inside spread. This is a good indication that the rut is on. Bucks will be traveling solo and focusing on the mating season by using their senses to detect receptive does. A dominant buck will breed many does; the strongest and fittest bucks sire the most offspring. Please exercise caution while driving in rural areas, especially during dusk and dawn. Wildlife staff did some fall burning on an Oakfield ledge Glacial Habitat Restoration Area by Horicon.
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SOUTHEAST REGION
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County - In Sheboygan shore anglers fishing off the piers and near the Deland Park boat launch have been catching a few browns on spawn and spoons. In the Sheboygan River some coho and browns have been caught on flies near the Kohler dam and in Esslingen Park.
Ozaukee County - In Port Washington, shore anglers have been catching a mix of browns, coho, and rainbows on spawn near the power plant and on spoons in the harbor.
Milwaukee County - Shore anglers in Milwaukee have been catching a few browns and chinooks on spawn and spoons near the base of McKinley pier and near the Milwaukee Yacht Club. Anglers on the Milwaukee River have reported a few salmon below the falls in Estabrook and Kletzsch Parks. Fishing on the Menomonee River and Oak Creek has been slow. Brown trout have been seen near the Bender Park ramp, but effort there has been minimal.
Racine County - In Racine water levels on the Root River remain low, but coho and browns can be found throughout the river. Fishing has been slow overall, but small natural flies have taken some fish in faster current, and drifted spawn has caught fish in the deeper holes. Coho egg-taking goals have been met, and the Root River Steelhead Facility was shut down on Monday, November 10. During the Fall 2008 season, 1,413 chinooks, 2,071 coho, 243 browns, and 10 rainbows were passed upstream of the facility.
Kenosha County - For shore anglers in Kenosha, a few browns have been caught in the harbor and off the piers on spawn and tube jigs. Fishing on the Pike River has been relatively slow, and water levels are low.
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SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
Dodgeville DNR Service Center area
Grant County
Wyalusing State Park - Trails that are open are in good hiking condition. Most of the trees are now bare, with the exception of the oaks. The loss of foliage makes for better wildlife viewing. A stand of tamaracks near the park entrance welcomes park visitors with their brilliant display of gold. The tamarack is the only conifer in Wisconsin that sheds all of its leaves each fall. Gold finches, purple finches, chickadees, juncos, tufted titmice, blue jays and a few cardinals are regular visitors at the feeders. No woodpeckers to report yet. A sizeable flock of cedar waxwings frequent the trees daily across the road from the park office. Flickers are abundant along the roadways in the Homestead Campground and along the entrance road. A number of bluebirds and robins continue to be seen in the park. Wyalusing crew is getting ready for winter. Leaves are being blown and mulched. The indoor group camp is shut down and in the process of being winterized. The south section of Sugar Maple Nature Trail reopened a few weeks ago, allowing hikers to access the trail at the top and hike down to the boat landing. With this new segment of Sugar Maple Nature Trail recently opened, hikers are now able to cross the road near the boat landing and connect with Sentinel Ridge Trail. The addition of this small segment of Sugar Maple Nature Trail means that hikers can now make a large loop, starting and ending at Point Lookout, encompassing approximately 8 miles of trails and a small section of roadway between the old park office and Point Lookout. The long awaited trail crew arrived at Wyalusing about 5 weeks ago and will continue work on Sugar Maple Nature Trail until the ground freezes. An outstanding view of the confluence of the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers can be seen from the Green Cloud Picnic Area and the Passenger Pigeon Monument. Homestead Campground is closed for the season. All sites in the Wisconsin Ridge Campground are open on a first come basis. The showers, flush toilets, dumping station and all water fountains throughout the park are shut down for the season.
Fitchburg DNR Service Center area
Sauk County
Devil's Lake State Park - Autumn foliage is now about 95 percent fallen and is past peak color. Hiking is ideal: cool and breezy with scrunching leaves underfoot, and open vistas that you don't see in the summer. Mountain bike trails are open to bicycles until first snowfall. Water facilities, including running water bathrooms, showers, and RV dump/fill stations, have been turned off for the season. Deer hunting is allowed in certain areas of the park. Though these areas are not off limits to other park users, care and caution are urged, and wearing blaze orange clothing is recommended if you venture into these areas during the hunting season. Hunting is permitted in the Steinke Basin area, Sauk Point Trail, Roznos Meadows, and the south bluff. Hunters may be found in the park November 22 through December 14. In addition, archery hunters may be present December 15 through January 4. Any hunters in the park must have a valid hunting license and this year's permit for hunting at Devil's Lake. All vehicles parked within park boundaries must display a valid vehicle admission sticker.
Governor Nelson State Park – Trails are in good condition and park staff are preparing the tread for cross country skiing. For the most recent updated trail information please call the office at 608-831-3005. All piers have been removed for the season.
Lake Kegonsa State Park - The campground, toilet / shower building and dump station are closed for the season. All boat landing and fishing piers have been removed for the season.
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WEST CENTRAL REGION
Baldwin DNR Service Center area
St. Croix County
Willow River State Park - The white-tail bucks are more commonly observed these days. Park staff has seen bucks that have varied from large to scrawny. Take advantage of leaves down to hike. Much more is visible with leaves down. Expect to find park staff working on trails on weekdays. Dry land training for cross country skiers continues. The start time has been moved up to 5:15 p.m. to take advantage of the quickly fading daylight. Meet at the Purple (Trout Brook) trail head Tuesdays and Thursdays. Bring a head lamp, ski poles, and good trail shoes. If you arrive a little bit late, head out the Purple trail and take the left fork of the main loop if you have not found the group. The normal route is the Purple main stem, up the Brown, one lap on the Red main stem, and back down the Brown. The training group has been a mixture of competitive racers to touring skiers. There is more leveling work to come on the re-routed Orange trail. Other one way ski trails and branch loops will be mowed this week. Visitors are reminded of the upcoming gun hunting season for deer. The season opens Saturday, November 22 and ends Sunday, November 30. Areas open to hunting are north of the Willow River and some undeveloped land to the east of the main use area. Some trails border or come close to open hunting areas. All trail heads that access or are near open hunting areas will be posted. Places that do not engage nearby open hunting areas are: the park road, the Hidden Ponds Nature Trail, the White-Tail, Oak Ridge, Knapweed and Pioneer trails. To see Willow Falls, go in from the parking lot at the top of the hill on Cty. Rd. A. Visitors may encounter hunters entering open hunting areas from the closed area. Many visitors go about their activities as normal during hunting season making certain to wear brightly colored clothing. They visit mid day when hunting activity is at its lowest. (Hunting activity typically peaks during low light hours.) The dogs still come along. To those visitors, the hunting issue is a minor inconvenience for ten days. If you are uncomfortable with gun hunting available close to your favorite place to visit, and the options listed above will not work, plan something else for that nine day gun hunting season. Deer hunters are reminded that a daily or annual park sticker is required on your vehicle to hunt in the park, in addition to a deer hunting license. If you are a Conservation Patron there is no valid park sticker on the vehicle (it does not need to be your vehicle) leave your CP license on the dashboard as a valid admission. No other permits are needed. Office hours vary but we try to staff it most business hours. You may self- register for the daily or annual pass at the park office (when closed) or at drop boxes located in outlying parking areas. There is a new office under construction. The office you want is farther in to the park. Rifles may not be used in Zone 60M which includes the park. Hunters park their vehicles off the roads where it is safe to do so. Hunters may park in closed areas and walk to the open hunting areas with the gun unloaded and inside a case. Once inside the open area, the gun may be uncased and loaded for use. If you have already met your Earn A Buck requirement in another such zone, you may fill the buck tag part of your license. Expect to share the open hunting area with other hunters on the opening weekend. The hunting activity slows during the week; then it picks up again on Thanksgiving morning. The closing weekend does not see as much activity as the opener. Pick up a map at the park office.
Kinnickinnic State Park - All of Kinnickinnic State Park will be open for the gun hunting season for deer. The park is in Zone 60 M, which does not allow rifle hunting. Open dates are Saturday, November 22 through Sunday, November 30. Neither Kinnickinnic or Willow River State Park participate in the extended antlerless hunting seasons, although Zone 60 M has the extended gun seasons.
La Crosse DNR Service Center area
Deer rutting or breeding behavior is peaking, and bucks remain very active. Gun deer hunters should observe many deer, both bucks and does, exhibiting breeding behaviors. Favorable weather conditions have resulted in excellent raccoon hunting. Many raccoon hunters have reported successful harvests. Tundra swan numbers are increasing rapidly along the Mississippi. The next few weeks should offer excellent viewing opportunities until the river is frozen over. Numbers of most duck species are decreasing, but good numbers of mallards, gadwalls and some others are still present. Bald eagle numbers are high, especially where carcasses of dead waterfowl are abundant. Many coots and some ducks have died of trematode infestations again this fall.
Elroy-Sparta State Trail - The trail's campgrounds, the Kendall depot, and the Elroy Commons are closed for the season. The three tunnels are also closed for the season. Snowmobilers using the trail are routed around the tunnels in the winter. The Sparta Depot is open Monday through Friday.
Crawford County - The Mississippi River rose almost 8 inches by the end of last week reaching the 7.6 foot stage. However, the river quickly dropped back down to the 7.0 foot mark by early this week. The forecast for the Mississippi River is to remain steady this week. Surface water temperatures on the Mississippi River are in the upper 40s and water clarity is very good. The surface water temperature fluctuated depending rain and air temperatures. The Wisconsin and Kickapoo River are low but flowing at average rates for this time of year. Water clarity is good even after the recent rain. With the low water boaters and duck hunters have to use caution at boat landings. Be careful backing in large boats at some ramps because drop offs have developed at the end of the landing pad. Most landing are weed-free at the present moment except in the Lynxville area. The ramps at Lynxville and Cold Spring have had a lot of weeds blocking the ramp, depending on the wind direction. Boaters on the Mississippi River are urged to use caution with the low water. Wing and closing dams continue to be a dangerous. If you are unsure of where you are traveling stay in the navigation lane or slow down and utilize a depth finder. Besides wing dams, sunken trees and snags present dangers to boaters. Fishing action was fair to good this week. Bluegill action was spotty to good this week. Some decent action in the Prairie du Chien area was reported around wing dams on the Main Channel, in or around downed trees in the Ambro Slough complex or on the Main Channel. Main Channel bluegills seem to move around a bit. One tactic that has been used with some success is to drift a piece of crawler or wax worm along the bottom until fish are located. Bluegill action was spotty in the upper portions of Pool 10 near the dam. In the Pool 9 area action was very spotty. Some bluegill action was reported up along the Lansing dike. Cold Spring started to produce some very nice bluegills. Anglers were using garden worms and even some wax worms but success varies day to day. Crappie action is really picking up in some areas. Cold Spring has slowed considerably from a couple weeks ago. Anglers are using small minnows. In other areas Crappie have been hitting in the timber using small minnows, tube jigs, and small spinners. Perch are still taking a liking to live bait like night crawlers chunks tipped on a jig and worked quickly through the weeds in shallower water. Perch and white bass action has been spotty. Large and smallmouth bass fishing was kind of slow around the Prairie du Chien area according to most anglers. Anglers are using a variety of artificial baits to include plastics, spinner baits, and crank baits. Some of the best action was found near weed edges, flats, under water points, and in the timber. Bass fishing around the Lansing Dike was also spotty. Walleye and sauger action was spotty too. Some decent action reported on some of the wing dams, deeper back water sloughs and near the dam at Lynxville. Walleye and sauger anglers are either trolling crank baits along wing dams, flats, or drop offs along the main channel or dead lining or casting a jig tipped with minnows. Anglers have had marginal success drifting with a jig and minnow off the bottom. Northern pike action was slow again this week. Most northern are caught incidental to bass fishing. Northerns can be found in similar locations as bass. Duck hunters on the Wisconsin River are finding a few ducks; however, action has been generally slow. Some mallards, gadwall, widgeon and teal have been working the Wisconsin River bottoms. Many areas in the Wisconsin River bottoms still hold decent water levels. Mississippi River duck hunters found duck numbers varied with location. Duck hunters in the Prairie du Chien area found the going slow with only a few wood ducks, mallards, pintails, and teal included in some hunter’s bag. Hunters up the Ambro Slough complex report very slow action last week. The Ambro Slough complex does have some wood ducks, mallards and a mix of other puddle ducks but again this area is generally slow. Up in Pool 9 (Lynxville and Ferryville) hunters saw good to spotty action. The islands from Lynxville to Lansing saw fair action on Canada geese, mallards, gadwall, widgeon, bluebill, bufflehead, redhead, and ringneck. Hunters that walked in from Rush Creek, Sugar Creek, Buck Creek and Copper Creek have had decent action on some days. Near the Lansing dike hunters report fair numbers of mallards, pintails, gadwalls, teal and some wood ducks. Crawford County archery deer hunters are finding very good activity. Now that the leaves have dropped, corn is being harvested and the rut is in full swing, archery hunters are reporting numerous buck sightings. Still, there is a lot of corn still standing. Rubs and scrapes are really showing up. Crawford County is earn-a-buck this year and registration stations are beginning to register a fair number of antlerless deer. Squirrel hunters are finding very good numbers of squirrels this year and success has been improving now that most of the leaves have fallen. Asian beetles and Box Elder beetles were very active when the temperatures rose. However they started to become dormant once temperatures dropped. About the only leaves left on trees are brown oak leaves. Invasive Eurasian honeysuckle is still holding it’s green leaves.
Eau Claire DNR Service Center area
Brunet Island State Park - Species of birds seen or heard include: ravens, phoebes, northern juncos, nuthatches, pileated woodpeckers, great horned and barred owls, Canada geese, and blue jays. Whitetail deer have begun to rut with the November full moon. An area to the north and east of the main office, including part of the Nordic Trail system, will be open for a limited, shotgun only, special access permit required antlerless deer hunt beginning Saturday, November 22 to 30. The park’s islands are not open to hunting. Hikers are strongly cautioned to wear blaze orange if they will be using the areas open to hunting. The main island is not open to hunting and we would encourage hikers to use the trails and roadways available there. Please contact the office at 715-239-6888 if you have questions regarding the hunt. Park trails are in good condition. There has been some musky action on Cornell flowage. Panfish action has been increasing in the bays as the water temperatures drop. Brunet Island State Park north campground is open with pit toilets and hand water pump. The south campground is open with electric sites, pit toilet, and hand water pump. The park dump station is now closed.
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