A preliminary tally found hunters registered 195,647 deer during the nine-day November gun deer hunt, including 86,251 bucks and 109,396 antlerless deer.
DNR wildlife officials had anticipated the harvest would be down from the preliminary harvest count of 276,895 in 2008 due to changes in season structure that significantly reduced the antlerless harvest and to lower fawn production over the last two winters, especially in the north.
A muzzleloader deer hunt is now open statewide through Dec. 9. Following the muzzleloader hunt, a four-day antlerless deer hunt will be held Dec. 10 through 13 across most of the state. However, because most of the deer management units in northern and central Wisconsin are designated as “regular” deer management units, the free antlerless Herd Control Unit tags are not valid in these units. Hunters must purchase a unit-specific antlerless deer carcass tag to hunt in regular units, and there were no tags available in some units and others have sold out. Check the DNR Web site for units with antlerless permits still available.
There has only been some skim ice forming on small ponds and edges of shallow bays, and even this has disappeared with the warm temperatures on milder days. At this point, there are no lakes with complete ice cover and full ice-up still seems to be a week or more likely two weeks away.
With the close of musky season in the Northern Zone on Nov. 30, there has been very little fishing pressure on northern lakes, with only a few reports of walleye anglers still trying their luck, but success has been very low. Most northern anglers are waiting for solid ice cover to get back into fishing mode. However, musky anglers in southern Wisconsin may find a trophy fish in their stockings this holiday season. The southern zone musky season has been extended and is open through Dec. 31 on inland Wisconsin waters south of Highway 10. The longer season for the southern zone waters was approved by anglers during the 2008 spring rule hearings.
Walleye and sauger fishing has still been good on the Mississippi River. Anglers are also continuing to fish Lake Michigan harbors, with fair to moderate success for brown trout and steelhead in Sheboygan, Port Washington, Milwaukee and Racine. Brown trout were also being caught in the Sheboygan and Root rivers.
Tundra swans are present in large numbers along the Mississippi. Bald eagles are also plentiful. Geese still remain in good numbers at southern Wisconsin marshes and are they are still being seen up through northern Wisconsin. Ducks are also still fairly abundant, although numbers of most species have declined.
Weasel are being seen now in many areas as their coats have now turned white and they can be easily seen against the brown forest floor. Woodpeckers including the large pileated woodpecker to the small downy and hairy have been extremely active.
A reminder that next Thursday, Dec. 10 is the deadline to apply for 2010 spring turkey permits and black bear permits. Under Wisconsin’s new mentored hunting law, youths who will turn 10 by the time these hunt begin can apply for permits. And 2010 annual Wisconsin State Park admission stickers are now available for purchase at park and forest offices and DNR service centers. Prices remain unchanged from last year and stickers make great holiday gifts for outdoors lovers.
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
Superior DNR Service Center area
Brule River State Forest - More seasonable weather may finally be here after the above average temperatures of late. The extended forecast calls for highs in the mid 20s and lows in the teens. This should help build some ice on some of the smaller lakes, much to the delight of the ice fishers. The ground has a light layer of snow on it making visibility for the muzzleloader hunters much easier. The muzzleloader season will continue through Dec. 9, then an antlerless gun hunt will take place from Dec. 10-13. The Brule River State Forest annual fall public meeting will be held Dec. 12, at 1 p.m. at the Cloverland Town Hall. National Weather Service Cooperating Station at the Brule DNR office reported November precipitation of 1.39 inches, down from the historical average of 2.24 inches. November snowfall was 1 inch, down from the historical average of 12 inches.
Spooner DNR Service Center area
Washburn County – Lakes and rivers still have open water everywhere. Geese and some ducks are still flying around.
Park Falls DNR Service Center area
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - With the close of musky season in the Northern Zone on Nov. 30, there has been virtually no fishing pressure on area waters and for all intents and purposes, the open-water fishing season has basically ended. There have been a few reports of walleye anglers still trying their luck, but success has been very low. Most anglers are waiting for solid ice cover to get back into fishing mode. At this point, there are NO lakes with complete ice cover and full ice-up still seems to be a week or more away on most lakes. There has only been some skim ice on many of the small ponds and edges of shallow bays, and even this has disappeared with the warm temperatures on the milder days. Several nights of calm weather with cold temperatures in the low teens or single digits are needed for the larger lakes to see any significant ice formation.
Woodruff DNR Service Center area
Upper Wisconsin Basin fisheries report (Oneida, Vilas, Lincoln, Langlade, Forest and Florence counties) - With the close of musky fishing season just a few days ago, most fishing in the area has ceased as anglers await ice. Normally some early ice fishing can be had just after deer season, but it will be at least another week to two weeks before shallow bays and small lakes freeze. By the weekend of Dec. 12, there may be some opportunities but more likely the weekend of the Dec. 19.
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NORTHEAST REGION
Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area
Whitefish Dunes State Park - Wildlife sightings have been plentiful with the lack of snow. The white coat of the weasel can be easily seen against the brown forest floor. The resident Nature Center mink showed his/her face, early one morning to the delight of the park staff. Late one evening, visitors sighted two red foxes on the beach. Other wild activities at the park include many visitors enjoying the warmer weather to take their dogs for a swim or hike on the beach. Not only dogs were sighted in the water but one brave swimmer. With most of the leaves off the trees, the forested dunes are revealing their hidden treasures. Green foliage from the ferns and club mosses draw the eye against the dried leaves. Woodpeckers are common along the black trail. Watch for the very large pileated woodpecker to the small “twins” downy and hairy woodpeckers. Early morning sunrise brings unique look to the beach. View migrating waterfowl and song birds. The washed up cladophera brings in a bounty for the diving and dabbling ducks. Canada geese, mallards and wood ducks enjoy the treats caught by the net-like algae. Buffleheads, mergansers, redheads, and ruddy ducks can be seen rafting up for winter.
Oshkosh DNR Service Center area
Landowners who put in corn food plots for wildlife should check them for mold. If corn has mold it should be plowed under so it is not accessible to wildlife. A farmer in Winnebago County contacted a UW Extension agriculture agent about dumping moldy corn on his property because it will not be sold due to high mold content. According to Julie Langenberg, DNR Wildlife Health Veterinarian, there are wildlife health risks associated with exposed disposal of moldy corn -- specifically the possibility of fungal respiratory infections (for example, aspergillosis) in birds (for example, turkeys, cranes, waterfowl), and mycotoxicosis (poisoning with toxins produced by fungal species) in both birds and mammals. If this form of disposal is the only viable option for a farmer, it would be good if it was less accessible to wildlife, e.g. plowed under, buried, tarped or caged, etc.
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SOUTHEAST REGION
Washington County - With the forecast for cold weather, many of the local marshes will be frozen over or nearly frozen over by this weekend. The exceptions will be the main river channels and larger bodies of water. Geese still remain at Theresa Marsh and there will continue to be geese in the area throughout the rest of the goose season provided the area doesn't get deep snows covering their food sources and roosting areas. Moderate numbers of ducks still remain on Theresa Marsh.
Harrington Beach State Park - Are trails are in good hiking condition. Fishing has been slow. A few of the trails wind their way through an area open to hunting. Harrington Beach is open to hunting during the Muzzleloader Season through Dec. 9 to hunters with a valid park permit and with a muzzleloader only. It is also open for the Late Archery Season to Jan. 3 to hunters with a valid park permit. We have areas of the park that are closed to hunting that have many of the hiking trails including the Quarry Lake Trail. The campground is closed for the season through May 5, 2010.
Kohler-Andrae State Park- Nature trails and hiking trails are open. Showers, flush toilets, and water fountains are closed for the season. The trailer dump station is still open. Camping is first come first serve through March 31. Deer are being seen every day. The park is open to deer hunting for those who hold a 2009 Kohler-Andrae State Park (Deer Management unit 77E) permit in specific locations. The open hunting area includes state land west of the Black River except for state land south of Old Park Road. The Black River Trial system is open to hunters during the entire hunting season at Kohler-Andrae State Park. Recreational users should plan on wearing blaze orange while hiking, biking or horse riding on the Black River Trail system. The muzzleloaders deer hunting season is open through Dec. 9. Archery deer hunting is open through Jan. 3.
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County - In Sheboygan shore anglers have been catching rainbows and browns on both spawn and crank baits in the marina. In the Sheboygan River anglers have been catching brown trout and a few steelhead up to the Kohler dam. Most fish have been taken on flies and spawn.
Ozaukee County - Shore anglers in Port Washington have been catching a few brown and rainbow trout near the power plant and in the north slip. Both skein and spawn sacs produced fish.
Milwaukee County - In Milwaukee boaters have been catching decent numbers of brown trout in and around the harbor. Shore anglers have been catching a few browns on spawn near the Summerfest grounds and in the Menomonee River at the MMSD offices. Some browns and steelhead have been caught in the Milwaukee River downstream of Estabrook Park, with small flies and spawn both producing.
Racine County - Shore anglers fishing in the Racine harbor have been catching a few brown trout. Crank baits and spawn have produced the most fish. On the Root River, water levels were high after rain this past weekend, but levels have started to drop back down. All areas of the river have been holding browns and a few steelhead. Flies such as wooley buggers and egg sucking leeches have produced in fast moving water, and spawn drifted through deeper pools has also worked well.
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SOUTH CENTRAL REGION
No reports.
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WEST CENTRAL REGION
Baldwin DNR Service Center area
Additional crop harvests seem to have improved pheasant hunting in the area near grasslands adjacent to corn fields. Canada geese are still in the area and more fields are being used by the birds with some scouting and land owner permission some good hunting awaits. Walleye and sauger fishing on the Mississippi River at Redwing and Prescott has still been good, with some nice-sized sauger reported. Jigs and minnows, crank baits and three-way rigs all seem to be effective. Colder weather is due later this week, but no snow and very little ice has formed on only smaller ponds. Ice fishing quality ice is still a couple weeks away at least.
St. Croix County
Willow River State Park - With the warm November, there is no measurable ice forming on the lake yet. It won't be long until some of the best fishing for panfish, which generally follows freeze up. Deer hunting continues with an archery season north of the Willow River and on some land out to the east. Hunter participation is generally very light. For other park visitors, this hunting season is a non-factor. There is an extended gun hunting season in Zone 60M but the state park is not part of that season. The Willow River Nordic skiers will be working on various trail projects at random times until skiing starts. Most of the skiing signs are already up including some that direct one-way skiing traffic. Hikers travel either direction until the trail closes to all but skiers. Dry land training as a group is irregular due to scheduling conflicts. Man-made snow is available in the area with lighted skiing at night coming soon so some trainers will likely be headed there. All weather predictions indicate dry or little snow for the next week. Work is done on the retaining wall at the beach and the lake is back up to normal level. The new campgrounds are still active construction zones. Please do not enter those areas. There is a Full Moon Hike Saturday, December 5 at the Nature Center. The program begins at 7 p.m. The main campground will be closed to vehicles beginning this week until April. Campers can park and hike in with tents at the main campground entry which is about a mile down the road from the office. Trailer campers have six electric sites at the beach area. Call before you plan your trip to confirm that camping is available.
La Crosse DNR Service Center area
Tundra swans are present in large numbers along the Mississippi. Bald eagles are also plentiful. Ducks are still abundant, although numbers of most species have declined. Coot numbers have declined greatly. Looking for some late season hunting opportunities? How about setting sights on squirrels? These abundant arboreal mammals are found statewide and offer plenty of challenges for beginning and advanced hunters alike. Squirrels remain active throughout winter but will hole up for several days during the nastiest winter weather. With a daily bag limit of five and an open season that runs through Jan. 31, there are numerous opportunities for hunters. There are also many opportunities for hunting many different species still this season. Hunters still have a lot of opportunities to get and hunt and maybe put some food in the freezer. With snow just around the corner many people are pulling out their bird feeders and preparing for the winter bird feeding season. Remember that bird feeders should be disinfected periodically throughout the winter with a 10 percent bleach solution to prevent the spread of disease. Black oil sunflower seed is a great all around bird food. About 40 different bird species will eat black oil sunflower seeds. To attract a wide variety of birds it is important to use several styles of feeders. Juncos and morning doves prefer to feed on the ground while blue jays and cardinals utilize elevated open platforms. Chickadees and finches prefer standard tube feeders, while woodpeckers and nuthatches enjoy suet feeders.
Eau Claire DNR Service Center area
Brunet Island State Park - Note that the park is not open to the muzzleloader or December antlerless gun seasons. Deer hunting pressure in the park was average for the nine day season. An area to the north and east of the main office, including part of the Nordic Trail system, is open to late season antlerless bow deer hunting, with special access permit only. The park’s islands are not open to hunting. Species of birds seen or heard include: ravens, black capped chickadees, northern juncos, piliated woodpeckers, great horned owls, barred owls, and bald eagles. The south campground is open with electric sites, hand water pump, and a pit toilet. The south campground shower facility, the picnic area flush toilet building, and the camper dump station are closed for the season. The north campground sites 59 through 69 are open with pit toilet and hand water pump available. As the park office is not regularly staffed at this time of year, please use the yellow self registration pay posts located at the office and in each campground.
Wisconsin Rapids DNR Service Center area
Buckhorn State Park - The late bow season is open in the park and wildlife areas. A timber sale is being done at this time in the Yellow River Wildlife Area along 18th Ave. Deer can be registered at the park office when staffed. New maps are available at the park office that show the parkland that was acquired last fall which is now state park land and has the hunting rules on them. Some areas of the park will have gates closed when we get snow as those areas are not plowed. The gate to the group camp area is now closed.
Roche-A-Cri State Park - The main gate and campground are closed for the season. Parking is allowed in the winter/prairie parking lot on Czech Ave. and park stickers are required for all vehicles in that lot. Hunting is not allowed in the park. There is a hunter parking lot on Cypress Ave, east of Highway 13 at that hunting area.
Last Revised: Thursday December 03 2009
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