Some very windy conditions have dominated the weather scene in the last week, providing a bit of a challenge for hunters and anglers alike. The drop in temperatures and the strong winds have, however, spurred on waterfowl migrations.
The pheasant opener saw some nice weather in areas, and some rain in others. But the high winds were what made it hard for the hunters. Birds were getting up and they were gone quickly. The cooler temperatures were especially welcomed by those hunting with dogs.
The strong winds also brought down many leaves across the state, greatly improving visibility for grouse and archery hunters. Grouse hunting reports have been mixed. In some areas hunters are finding grouse by the tag alders and along areas that are holding water, but other hunters reported seeing few birds. Similarly, reports of woodcock are mixed, with only a few areas reporting migrating woodcock so far this year.
With the re-opening of the southern zone waterfowl season, hunters were seeing a larger variety of ducks making their migration south. Most hunters have still been bagging mallards, wood ducks, and teal, but increasing numbers of diver ducks have begun to move into the state. Ducks and geese have been rafting up on the larger waters.
Wardens reported participation seemed down for the antlerless deer hunt in the chronic wasting disease management zone, though some stations reported decent registrations. Hunters in some areas are reporting that bucks have already entered the chase phase of the rut, which is early for this activity, but most areas are still reporting pre-rut activity with scrapes and rubs common.
Strong winds limited fishing activity, but musky anglers continue to work Northwoods lakes and there were reports across the north this week of some large 50-inch musky being caught. Walleye action also continues to improve, with most anglers now using live bait for walleye as well as musky. In the south, fishing picked up on the Madison Chain of lakes, with decent walleye action on Lake Mendota and musky fishing has picking up on lakes Monona and Waubesa.
Fall salmon and trout runs continue on most Lake Michigan tributaries, but action has slowed slightly, with anglers finding it more and more difficult to hook fish in the mouth and with many chinook very dark. Fish were still reported in the Manitowoc, East and West Twin, Sheboygan, Milwaukee, Menomonee and Root rivers.
Turkey vultures are starting to migrate and groups of 20 to 50 vultures have been seen at Devil’s Lake State Park. Very large flocks of sandhill cranes and blackbirds are also being seen. And there were numerous reports of the strong winds bringing juncos into the state, with hundreds sighted in some areas.
Eastern gray tree frogs were still being heard but they are hard to see as they blend in quite well to the natural colors of tree bark.
Conditions are right for DNR crews to conduct fall prescribed burns. These controlled burns will be conducted throughout southern and central Wisconsin in the next few weeks. Fire played a crucial role in the development of Wisconsin's native plant communities, and remains a critical tool for management of these same landscapes today.
Fall color is still being reported at near peak in about a dozen counties, mostly in the south, but most of the state is reporting color past peak on the Department of Tourism’s
Fall Color Report (exit DNR). More than a dozen Halloween and fall festival hike and events are scheduled at state parks, forests and other properties over the next two weekends. Check the
events schedule on the DNR website for details.
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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Superior DNR Service Center areaBrule River State Forest - The Bois Brule River is flowing 125 CFS (cubic feet per second). The 65 year average is 142 CFS. Anglers are reporting the fishing is difficult with the low and clear conditions and they are looking forward to some more rain to raise the river level up again. The fall color show was cut short by the recent high winds, which have blown the majority of the leaves off of the trees. The once colorful leaves are now lining the forest floor giving off a pleasant "fall smell" as they are beginning to decompose, restocking the soil with nutrients. Tamarack trees are now turning color and putting on a display of gold. The Copper Range Campground has been busy with campers looking to fish on the Bois Brule River. Campers are advised that if the Copper Range Campgrounds fill up the Bois Brule Campground (near the Ranger Station) has had several openings. The 2011 youth deer hunt was reported to be warm and windy with moderate success. The fallen leaves tend to get home owners thinking of raking up the leaves and yard debris and then burning it. Debris burning is the number one cause of fires in Wisconsin. Before burning, consider other more environmentally friendly options like composting and recycling. Burning permits are required when the ground is not snow covered. To obtain the annual burning permit go online at
http://dnr.wi.gov/forestry/fire/permit.htmor or call 1-888-WIS-BURN (947-2876) to have a permit mailed or instantly emailed. Permits are also available at a local Ranger Station or from an Emergency Fire Warden. More information about burning permits can be found at
http://dnr.wi.gov/forestry/fire/burning-rp.htm. The Brule River State Forest has forest permits for the holidays: tree permits or large arm loads of balsam boughs can be purchased for $5 each. Commercial bough picking permits are also available for $60. Firewood permits are available for personal use for $5 for five cords. Anyone looking to get a firewood or commercial bough permit is asked to scout ahead where the cutting will take place on the Brule River State Forest before coming in for the permit. Permits can be picked up at the Brule River State Forest office. Deer ticks are becoming more visible and are looking for a blood meal before becoming inactive during the cold of winter. Don't forget to put one more month's supply of frontline on the pets! To see the two year life cycle of a deer tick and their seasonal activity see
http://www.aldf.com/deerTickEcology.shtml . The 15th annual Hunters Expo will be held at the Mission Covenant Church in Poplar on Saturday, Oct. 22 from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. There will be numerous wildlife mounts, exhibits, seminars, food, and hunting stories.
Ashland DNR Service Center areaAshland County - Fall turkey hunters in Unit 7 should be looking for birds in open fields as the birds seem to be feeding on insects and bugs in the grass fields along with any areas that have oaks with acorns. Bucks are beginning to move as we have a hunters full moon, good hunting before and after the moon phase. Does and fawns are feeding under area apple trees. Grouse and woodcock hunters are finding birds by the tag alders, and along areas that are holding water, creeks and beaver ponds. Also new in 2011 hunters and trappers are reminded that there is a single statewide opener for coyote and fox trapping and hunting. Goose hunters are still finding geese in the area, though numbers have decreased as the weather has gotten colder. More birds should be coming down from up-north. Very few ducks are being seen in the area. Musky fishing has picked up, anglers are reminded that motor trolling is illegal in Iron county. ATV operators are enjoying the Iron County trails and there is still lots of great riding ahead, even as the weather cools.
Bayfield County - With the recent colder temperatures archery hunters are stating that the buck activity has finally picked up and with the majority of the leaves off the trees, its easy seeing both deer and the scrapes they are leaving behind. Both the bird and squirrel hunters are finding success in the Northwoods, with all but a few trees holding leaves now, locating their prey has become much easier. The local ATV club is holding their 3rd annual Toys 4 tots Ride this Saturday. With the recent rain, dust has been knocked down and the trail are in excellent condition. Waterfowl hunters are still waiting for colder temperatures up north, in hopes to see some of the local ducks before freeze over. Walleye fishing has been good on both Namekagon Lake and the Eau Claire cain. Snowmobile crews have begun work on the local trails and have big hopes for snow this winter.
Douglas County - Past peak now describes fall foliage. High winds in the area for the last few days have brought many leaves down. The high winds and cooler temperatures also seem to have ushered in some flight ducks into the area. Contrary to prior statewide reports, waterfowl and grouse numbers in the area seem to be way down.
Hayward DNR Service Center areaSawyer County - Grouse hunting is getting mixed results. Hunters are getting birds, but long walks getting off the beaten path seems to be getting the best results. The same with woodcock. Both birds appear to be in better numbers along swamp and young popple edges. Many hunters are questioning if the woodcock have already been through the area as not a high volume are being seen. As usual, some areas have higher volume of birds than others. Hunters are reminded that in order to hunt woodcock they need HIP certification and can only use a firearm capable of holding no more than three shells. Deer hunters are still reporting mixed results in the area. Rubs and scrapes still seem to be at a minimum in most locations. Most hunters are expecting this to increase this coming week and getting better as toward November. Hunters who are in an area where they can use bait must remember the legal limit is no more than 2 gallons, which included salt and mineral licks. The few brave souls out fishing yet seem to be catching most fish on live bait or plastic. Live bait of choice seems to be walleye suckers for the walleyes and large fat heads for crappies and perch. The crappies are off the deeper edges and cribs as are the walleyes. Some people are still fishing walleyes shallow with mixed results. These individuals are throwing crank or stick baits to cover a higher volume of water instead of sitting in one spot. The fish on the artificial baits appear to be of larger size than the ones caught on live bait. The Chippewa Flowage in Sawyer County is producing well right now for both crappies and walleye. ATV activity has dropped off sharply as far as recreational use. Most are using them for hunting purposes now, not for joy riding. ATV operators are reminded to make sure they start watching the areas they want to operate for closures. Most maps will indicate where and when closure will start. The Flambeau River State Forest Sawyer County trails are closed from Nov. 15 to May 15. The Tuscobia State trail is open year round in Sawyer County. Grab a local map before operating and know where you want to travel.
Spooner DNR Service Center areaBarron County - Musky action is hot on Rice Lake with most anglers finding success using large sucker minnows. Many anglers are boating several fish per outing with several approaching the 50 inch mark reported. Walleye fishing is slow as angler’s area waiting for the lakes to turn over to try for the big fish in deep water with large live bait rigs. Recent rains and high winds have defoliated the woods allowing for more visibility for upland hunters. Grouse hunters are reporting great success with birds being plentiful, especially those hunters with pointer dogs. The bear season came to a close leaving many hunters frustrated. Early frosts caused an abundant crop of acorns to drop almost instantly shutting down bait stations about four days before the start of the bait sitter season, this coupled with two weeks of 80 degree temps caused minimal bear movement. Many hunters did not see a bear at the baits and most baits were hit only after dark
Cumberland DNR Service Center areaBurnett County - Strong northwest winds brought in some migrating waterfowl for hunter to pursue in the late part if October. The ducks seem to be rafting on large water bodies resting up for there long migration. Grouse, woodcock, pheasant, and other ground nesting bird populations seem to be less than forecasted possibly due to a cold wet spring. Cooler shorter days have help increase deer movement.
Governor Knowles State Forest - The Saint Croix Campground and Wayside are closed for the season. The water at the Trade River Equestrian Campground has been shut off for the season, so campers should bring their own water for camping and live stock. The toilet buildings at the horse camp will remain open until the first week of November. Hiking trails along the Saint Croix River offer a tremendous view this time of year, and colder weather means no bugs for your hike.
Ladysmith DNR Service Center areaRusk County - With the recent cool down in temperature and with corn being harvested from the fields, deer are on the move. Archery hunters are reporting some success and deer are becoming more visible in daylight hours. Scrapes are being made and deer movement should continue to get better. Trappers are reporting success on muskrat, raccoon, and a few mink. Recent fish surveys on the Holcombe flowage are showing signs of a growing bluegill population.
Park Falls DNR Service Center areaUpper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - Musky continue to be the main highlight for anglers in the Upper Chippewa Basin, though strong winds have made it quite a challenge for much of the past week. Most anglers at this time of year fish with large suckers and success has been generally good. Artificial baits have been catching a few musky but most of these have been smaller fish in the 30 to 38-inch size. The nicest musky have been coming on the bigger suckers - with some 40-inch-plus fish being caught on 18-inch or better suckers. Look for this trend to continue as the fall season progresses, with the trophy potential getting better as the season winds down toward its closing on Nov. 30. Walleye action continues to improve, with more anglers trying to key in on the fall bite. Live minnows have been the key, either on a jig, a slip bobber, or a bare hook and split-shot rig. The best success has been in the two hours before dark, with the minnows being fished along the gravel/rock drop-offs, deep weed edges and near bottom break lines. Bass anglers have basically put away their boats for the year, though a warm, sunny day can produce some good action for largemouth for the die-hard bass anglers. Panfish action has been fair, with some nice perch and crappie still being found around any green weeds and near mid-depth cover. Trout activity has been good on Patterson Lake, with anglers catching some nice rainbows and browns from the various shoreline fishing spots.
Taylor County - Leaves have fallen across the county improving visibility for grouse hunters. Many hunters from other states are making their annual trip to the public lands to chase the ruffed grouse. Thousands of acres of grouse and woodcock habitat await the bird hunter willing to put some miles on their boots. National Forest, DNR state wildlife areas and county forest offer hunting opportunities to anyone interested. Deer are beginning to move with scrapes and rubs showing signs that the rut is just around the corner. The rut makes bucks vulnerable and hunters spend a great amount of time trying for that trophy.
Woodruff DNR Service Center areaBearskin State Trail - The trail is good condition. The fall colors are past peak in Oneida County.
Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area - More typical fall-like temperatures and weather patterns now appear to be setting in. The recent strong winds have left most trees bare, but the aspen and tamarack still provide some vibrant yellow color, especially when in contrast to our green, coniferous tree species. Greater visibility, along with the cooler temperatures, has led to an increased number of hunters taking to the woods in pursuit of grouse and deer. Grouse hunters have been seeing decent numbers of birds in areas where nearby food sources are available. Waterfowl hunting overall has been slow on the flowage, but the colder weather is expected to bring better numbers of ducks and geese from northern latitudes. Fishing on the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage has been good, and should continue to be good for those anglers prepared to handle the cooler temperatures. Anglers continue to find nice-sized walleye and smallmouth bass together amongst the shallow water wood and rocks. Anglers seeking the flowage’s big crappie have also been doing well after locating the fish around wood structure and deeper breaks. Musky action has been quite good, with reports of some trophy-sized fish being caught. Currently the water level on the Flowage is at 1568.9 feet, 3.1 feet below full pool. Due to the underwater hazards, boaters should stick to the river channels when traveling between the basins of the flowage. Taking your time on the flowage, can be rewarding in more ways than one!
Antigo DNR Service Center areaCouncil Grounds State Park - Some trails remain closed due to a tornado that hit the park in April. The campground was unaffected by the tornado. The fall colors are gone for the season. Canadian Geese have been spotted in large flocks on the river. The campground is open, but the flush toilet buildings are closed for the season. The campground will close on Oct. 31. One dock remains in at the boat landing.
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Peshtigo DNR Service Center areaMarinette County - Fishing pressure has been light due to adverse weather conditions. Water temperatures at the landings are in the low 50s. The panfish bite remains good at the Dam on the Peshtigo River, with red worms fished with a bobber has been working well. Some salmon were being caught below the power house on the Peshtigo using spawn sacks. Fishing below the Silver Bridge in Peshtigo has been successful with pike and bass caught on spoons and stick baits. Little river continues to produce salmon using spawn sacks, with the best fishing times in the mornings. Salmon and brown trout were being caught in the area of the Hattie Street Dam on the Menominee River using spawn or casting spoons and stick baits. Leaves are all but gone now in the understory. There have been lots of reports of large groups of migrating birds heading south (various ducks, cranes, robins, geese etc.). Ducks are in on Lake Noquebay. Woodcock should also be migrating with the north winds to help them along. Family groups (hens and this years young) of turkeys are still being seen along with the occasional brood of young grouse-sized poults. Some large groups (12-plus) of toms and jakes are also being seen. Now is a good time identify buckthorn infestations as they still have green leaves while most other plants have dropped all theirs. It is also a good time to do foliar treatments or cut stump treatments on those woody invasives to reduce non-target kill. A reminder that as fall yard cleanup goes into full swing for many homeowners, that invasives can easily be spread by dumping of yard waste-- please do not move new invasives to state land by illegally dumping.
Oconto County - Panfishing at the Stiles Dam remained good with bluegill and crappie actively feeding, worms and slip bobbers for bluegills and minnows for crappies. Some browns, salmon, and bass are also being caught using spoons and stick baits. Susie's Rapids has been producing some nice browns in the 8 to 10 pound range along with the occasional pink salmon, casting lures and dead drifting fly's is working well. Some perch were being caught in the Pensaukee River down stream from the landing on bobbers and minnows. Perch fishing was picking up at Oconto Breakwater Park in and around the boat slips, minnows have worked best but bring some crawlers as back up. A few anglers report catching perch out of Oconto Park II in 7 feet of water, minnows fished on bottom are working the best.
Shawano County - The pheasant opener saw some very nice weather. But the high winds made it harder for the hunters. Birds were getting up and they were gone quickly. The winds also brought down a good number of ducks and geese. Crops are starting to really come down so there are plenty of opportunities to field hunt. Deer have been very active and archers are seeing many deer. northeastern Shawano county that a A buck was observed chasing two does – atypical for this early in the season, but is does show that the rut is starting at least in portions of the state. Car kills are starting to pick up to so slow down especially at dusk. Fall colors are past peak and most leaves are on the ground which helps the grouse hunters. Very few anglers have been out, so with this being some of the better times to fish, anglers would have the water mostly to themseles.
Navarino State Wildlife Area – Many of the trees have lost all of their leaves as winter approaches. Farmers are working hard to remove beans and corn from the fields. With the wind dying down and the rut upon us, it should be a good weekend for deer hunters.
Green Bay DNR Service Center area Brown County - Walleyes were being caught on the Fox River by anglers who are vertical jigging. A jig tipped with a minnow has been the most popular presentation, but anglers using Zip lures have had good success as well. Walleye anglers are also reporting catching catfish, drum, and a few white bass as well. The Bay Shore Park boat landing is currently being repaved and caution should be used when launching from this location. Perch fishing has been hit or miss with anglers reporting catching a few fish earlier in the week. Walleye fishing has been slow with very few anglers targeting them. The anglers that were, however, have caught a few fish off Volk’s Reef.
Manitowoc County - Early week temperatures in the mid-60s dropped to the mid-50s for the remainder of the week. Southeast winds at 5-10 mph switched last Friday out of the west at 20-30 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph. These strong winds continued through Sunday night. Water levels in the tributaries remain very low with very little rain this week. Surface temperatures are currently around 50 degrees and increases to 54 degrees in 60-plus feet of water. With the strong west winds, these temperatures continue to drop. The piers this week, both Two Rivers and Manitowoc, remain very slow. The Manitowoc marina saw little angler success early in the week and the strong winds over the weekend contributed to very little angler activity. But this area will continue to be a hot spot through November for trout and coho salmon. Angler activity and success slowed downriver from the dams in the county. A majority of the fish appear to have made it up and near the dams, with many chinook very dark. The Shoto dam on the West Twin River and the Mishicot dam on the East Twin River continue to be the best locations in the county to land large chinook salmon. The fishing action has slowed slightly though, with anglers finding it more and more difficult to hook fish in the mouth. A few anglers still leave with their limits, but this usually takes a full day of fishing to achieve. Very few steelhead, brown trout, and coho salmon have shown up as of Oct. 16. Anglers have been using large sinkers/bell sinkers with spawn, ear plugs, cookie dough, yarn/yarn flies, etc. to legally hook into these salmon. Those casting spoons and champs into these areas rarely hook a fish legally. The chinook salmon have ranged from 5-30 pounds and several chinook appear to be very dark and nearing their final days. Before the wind picked up late Thursday night, a few boats ventured out along the lakeshore to that 120-200 foot range for 2-3 year old salmon with great success. Downriggers set at 100-120 feet using green and white flashers with green and aqua flies worked best. Catches included several one or two person limits consisting of chinook salmon 6-12 pounds and an occasional rainbow trout.
Collins Marsh State Wildlife Area - The flowage is likely to reach a full pool the last week of October returning water levels to normal fall elevations. The vegetation produced during the summer drawdown has attracted more waterfowl to the wildlife area this fall. This week numerous flocks of mallards and Canada geese were seen resting in the refuge in addition less scaup, red heads and coot where seen mixed in with other species of waterfowl. Hunters have been reporting good harvests of ducks and geese with mallards being the most common duck being harvested.
Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area Door County - Sturgeon Bay perch anglers were finding some small perch along weed lines and rock bars. Most anglers have been targeting water in the 5-10 foot range to have the best success. Anglers had been targeting perch with live minnows under a float or on a bottom rig with the best results. Bass fishing has been slow; most anglers are finding smallmouth starting to move off into deeper water as we move later into autumn. Northern pike action has been slow but improving some every day. Most anglers are trolling crank baits along the shorelines. Perch fishing has been good at Little Sturgeon Bay with anglers catching limits of perch. These anglers however have to work for them, because there are so many small perch being caught. Some anglers report having to sort through 50-60 perch to achieve a limit. Pike are being caught as well by anglers willing to troll for them. Life jackets are a good reminder when it comes to boating safety during the fall. A recent event in northern Door County off of Washington Island proved just that. Two individuals went out in a canoe and left the life preserver back on shore because it was wet. Unfortunately the boat capsized and two men ended up in the water with one of the men drowning as he didn't have a life preserver and couldn't swim. Water temperatures were approximately 48 degrees. Another individual in northern Door county decided to go out on a 13 foot sailboat on Green Bay this week. Wind conditions were 35 knots out of the northeast with waves over 6 feet. Luckily for this young man, having a life preserver made the difference with him being able to go home tonight. After the boat filled with water, the individual stayed with the boat and the individual rode the boat to shore in the water and eventually up on shore with the waves approximately 2 miles from where the individual intended to come ashore. He was cold, wet but alive because he had a life preserver.
Potawatomi State Park - All hiking and biking trails are open and in overall good condition. The strong winds this fall have blown away many of the fall colors. Some anglers are having good luck night fishing for walleye and salmon in the area. The accessible fishing pier is out of commission for the rest of this year as a result of the Sept. 29-30 wind storm. Launch piers will remain in the water at Sawyer Harbor until the first week of November. All campsites are open and in good condition. The park store closed for the season October 17. Water is turned off at the shower building, fish cleaning station, and dump station until next spring. The well at the campground shelter remains open year-round.
Strawberry Creek Spawning Facility - The salmon have continued to run at a robust pace this year. On Monday, Oct.17 crews harvested another 775 chinook from the pond, nearly cleaning it out. The Wild Rose hatchery staff collected their daily quota of approximately 350,000 eggs. For some general background information, it required approximately 60 females to produce that number of eggs. To date, the run has produced in the neighborhood of 4,600 fish, well outpacing the last few years’ totals. Although over the last couple years crews have modestly increased the number of fish stocked into Strawberry Creek, this increased level of returning fish cannot be explained by that factor alone. The hatchery needs only a few hundred thousand eggs to complete their annual quota. Considering the number of fish continuing to enter the stream and the couple hundred left in the pond, there should be no problem collecting the remaining eggs. Thursday, Oct. 20 is projected to be the final egg harvest for 2011.
Kewaunee County - With all the high winds over the weekend, much of the fall colors have blown away. Farmers continue to harvest their crops, spread manure and re-work the fields.
Wautoma DNR Service Center area Marguett County - Duck hunters reported seeing more migrating ducks for the second opener. Hunters are harvesting mostly mallards, green wing teal, gadwall, and ring-necked ducks on Hope Marsh and the Grand River State Wildlife Area. The crappie fishing activity has slowed considerably in the Montello area. The fall colors are past peak and the leaves are falling fast. Archery deer hunters are seeing some scrapes, but the bucks are not real active yet.
Waupaca County - Kayakers and hikers have stated many of the trails and rivers are blocked by downed trees, making passage difficult. Possibly due to the many strong wind events that have occurred in recent months. Archery and bird hunters have had poor weather conditions as it has been very windy the last 8-10 days. Hunters have reported seeing a few scrapes in the woods this week indicating the bucks are beginning to engage in rutting behavior. Trappers have been out in full force since the raccoon season has begun. Several raccoon trappers have reported good success near cornfields and apple orchards. A northern shrike, a bird normally only seen during the spring and fall migrations, was seen about 4 miles south of Waupaca.
Waushara County - Deer activity really picking up with cooler weather. Buck rubs are being seen more frequently, and buck movement seems to be picking up based on deer being hit by cars. Geese are thick on local water bodies. Woodcock are moving. Juncos are moving into the area for the winter. Most fall flowers are done blooming. Leaf drop better than 50 percent complete.
Oshkosh DNR Service Center areaWith the last warmth of the year trickling downward for 2011, this past weekend allowed scores of monarchs to still travel southward through the Appleton area on their flight to Mexico. Strong winds provided the impetus for these stragglers along with sunshine. The purple flowers of New England asters were brightly showing their taste of nectar fueling the monarchs whenever they stopped. This week so far hundreds of juncos have come through the area. These birds were last seen in early May when the last of them moved northward for the breeding season. Hunting opportunities over the past weekend were somewhat subdued due to the winds but fair amount of local waterfowl were still present in Outagamie, Brown and Calumet counties. Wood ducks were the most common species of ducks seen as well as geese near the Fox Cities and Green Bay. Cooler and nasty weather during mid-week should bring some northern ducks down. With the leaves down, visibility for seeing ruffed grouse within Outagamie County should increase. Pheasant hunting opportunities are best locally during the week for public lands in Brown and Calumet counties for lots of acres and few hunters. For the few people still looking for dove hunting, their presence was up due to migrants over the weekend as well as during this week. Hundreds were seen on both public lands as well as on private lands. Look for waste grain fields near water sources off the beaten path. One roost found was located along a small stream corridor with plenty of thornapple trees for security while another was found along a public property dike with thornapple, gray dogwood and prickly ash. Garter snakes have been seen gathering near ephemeral ponds, lurking with frogs of many species, in Outagamie County. Food sources are abundant near these temporary ponds, which offer great opportunities for wood ducks, an occasional mallard as well as doves. Several individuals of Eastern gray tree frogs, wood frogs, spring peepers and leopard frogs were singing but rarely heard through the wind conditions. The Eastern gray tree frogs were present on trees where one had to look closely for they were blending quite well to the natural colors of bark. For the archery hunter, deer were still feeding on many of the forest herb layers of plants for not all places were froze out due to the recent frost, especially nettles, asters, jewelweed and many others.
Fond du Lac County - With current high winds and cold weather hunters are seeing a lot more ducks being pushed down from the north. A large assortment of puddle and diver ducks are now calling Lake Winnebago home. Good duck numbers are being seen on all sides of the lake.
Winnebago County - During the split (closed season) for waterfowl hunting, duck numbers increased with more mallards and teal making their way through the area. Cooler and windy weather have improved the duck numbers and now hunters are seeing and harvesting more diver ducks in the area. Waterfowl hunters are reminded that boating laws still apply and must display the appropriate navigation lights and have the appropriate number of wearable personal floatation devices on board for each person.
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Milwaukee DNR Service Center Area
Milwaukee County - The fish are still running in county rivers. Some folks are still having luck with flies and spawn. People are reminded that fish need to be hooked in the mouth in order to be legal and kept. Wardens are seeing a number of foul hooked fish that are not being released and getting complaints about even more. As the season progresses the fish become less aggressive so remember if you hook a fish somewhere other than in the mouth you have to release it.
Havenwoods State Forest - The drop in temperatures this past week has suddenly brought fall upon Havenwoods. As one of the last monarch butterflies made its way south, one of the first dark-eyed juncos flew in from the north. When you get tired of looking through your binoculars for migrants, you can still enjoy the fall asters blooming in the fields, milkweed seedpods exploding with fluffy seeds, and colorful leaves falling from the trees.
Kohler-Andrae State Park - All hiking and nature trails are open. Strong winds and rain have removed many of the tree leaves. The grass is covered with a carpet of leaves and pine needles. Maple trees continue their orange and red display. Squirrels are busy gathering nuts. The park water system (showers, flush toilets, and drinking fountains) is closed. The trailer dump station is scheduled to close mid November.
Plymouth DNR Service Center AreaTheresa Marsh Wildlife Area - Duck and goose numbers seem to have increased quite a bit since last week. The electric pump station was turned on last week in the "Mint Farm" area of the south refuge, putting water on two small impoundments. Ducks, Canada geese, sandhill cranes and hundreds of coots have been building up in those areas and in other parts of the marsh. Quite a few blue-winged teal still remain on the marsh. Duck hunters reported poor to moderate success for the second duck opener. Waterfowl and shorebird viewing opportunities remain excellent along Hwy. 28 where it passes through the marsh and from the marsh overlook on Mowhawk Road. Reports of car-killed deer have begun to increase. Pheasant hunter numbers were down about 30 percent on opening weekend on Jackson Marsh, probably due to the very high winds resulting in difficult hunting conditions. All local stocked properties (Allenton, Jackson and Theresa) are 2 p.m. closure through Nov. 3.
Sturtevant DNR Service Center AreaKenosha and Racine counties - Pheasant hunters in western Kenosha and Racine counties saw slightly cooler temperatures and some precipitation for the opening weekend. Although most of the hunting locations in the area are stocked, some hunters complained of not seeing, let alone bagging many birds. With the re-opening of the split waterfowl hunting season, hunters are eager to start seeing a larger variety of ducks making their migration south. Most hunters checked up until this point have been seen bagging mallards, wood ducks, and teal. Hunters are reminded to be sure of their target before shooting at ducks. Drake and hen mallards can especially look strikingly similar on the wing this early in the season.
Walworth County - The gun deer season was active over the weekend. Most hunters were reporting the lack of deer in the area. Most hunters believe the weather the region has been experiencing has a lot to do with the lack of deer movement. Registration stations were also reporting a slow October antlerless deer season compared to previous years. Most pheasant hunters reporting a successful hunt. Many of them were glad to see the cooler temps. Hunters were also glad to see the amount of work wildlife staff has done on State properties. In particular Clover Valley and Troy Wildlife areas. The properties are much more accessible to hunters with the mowed paths.
Big Foot Beach State Park - High winds last weekend knocked most of the colorful leaves from the trees in this area. Hiking trails are in excellent condition - wear appropriate footwear for mixed surfaces of grass, gravel and bare ground. The campground will be open through Oct. 30.
Waukesha DNR Service Center AreaWaukesha County - Water levels remain low on Big Muskego, but help is on the way. Little Muskego Lake is beginning its winter draw down, which means it will be passing water down to Big Muskego starting the week of Oct. 19. This should mean an increase of 2 to 4 inches in Big Muskego and with a little help from Mother Nature, it may be at full pool by the end of October. Scuppernong Habitat Area on the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit is no longer closed at 2 p.m. This provides some consistency across the forest, although hens are still released in Waukesha County and not in Walworth County. Note, the pheasant stocking information sheet has an error and still lists the Scuppernong as a 2 p.m. Closure Area. Fall prescribed burning season is just around the corner and some areas have all ready started burning. Pay attention when entering areas for special signage that would warn of prescribed burns planned for an area. Several large burns are planned on Vernon Wildlife Area, Turtle Valley Wildlife Area, Lulu Lake State Natural Area, and other state land in Walworth and Waukesha counties.
Lake Michigan fisheries team reportSheboygan County - In Sheboygan, when trollers could get out on the lake, they have had good success targeting fish in 120 to 200 feet of water. Spoons and flasher/fly combinations have produced a mix bag of chinook, and rainbow and lake trout. Shore fishing pressure has been relatively light, but at times a few coho and brown trout have been taken off the piers. Both green and silver spoons and spawn sacs have produced. The water temperature was around 60 degrees. On the Sheboygan River anglers have been catching chinook, coho, and a few rainbow trout. Most have been taken on spoons or by fly fishing. The river water is clear and the temperature was around 54 degrees. On the Pigeon River fishing pressure remains light, and water levels are low.
Ozaukee County - In Port Washington trollers have had very good success fishing 50 feet down in 100 to 180 feet of water. Flasher/fly combinations have been the most productive, with green or purple flies taking fish. Chinook have been the main catch, with a few lake trout and coho also being taken. Shore fishing has slowed somewhat near the power plant in Port, but anglers using spawn continue to catch hinook, with a few coho and rainbows mixed in. Water levels in Sauk Creek remain low. Fish that are still in the creek are stuck in some of the deeper pools, and anglers have been catching chinook, coho, and a few rainbows on flies and spawn.
Milwaukee County - In Milwaukee, the majority of fishing pressure remains in the rivers, however, shore anglers in the harbor have taken some chinook near McKinley Marina and the Milwaukee Yacht Club. Fresh skein has taken the most fish in that area. Water levels are dropping on all Milwaukee area tributaries. In the Milwaukee River, fly anglers have been catching decent numbers of salmon in Kletzsch Park and in the vicinity of Capitol Drive. Egg sucking leeches have produced. Good numbers of fish have also moved into the Menomonee River near Miller Park. When trollers can get offshore from Milwaukee, limits of immature chinook have been taken on flashers and flies fished about 60 feet down in 150 feet of water.
Racine County - Racine trollers have been catching good numbers of fish in 150 to 200 feet of water. Spoons and flashers and flies have taken coho and immature chinook, and blues, greens, and whites continue to produce. Shore anglers have been able to catch a few chinook on fresh skein, and the area inside the harbor near the Root River has had the most action. Water levels on the Root are low, but chinook and a few coho have been caught. Most fish have been taken on flies. Fish were processed at the Root River Steelhead Facility on Thursday, Oct. 13. So far this season DNR crews passed upstream a total of 607 chinook, 40 coho, and 18 brown trout. Fish will be processed again on Thursday, Oct. 20.
Kenosha County - Shore fishing in Kenosha has been generally slow, but occasional chinook and browns have been taken in the harbor and off the south pier. Most fish were caught on fresh skein. Flows on the Pike River are low, and although chinook can be seen in the river near the mouth, fishing remains slow.
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Lower Wisconsin State Riverway - With the return of cool weather, changes have come to the river bottoms. Many of the migratory song birds have departed, leaving the woods quieter. Now pileated and other woodpeckers, chickadees, blue jays and white throated sparrows rule the air waves. Wood ducks and several hardy teal still linger. Only a few mallards have yet been seen in the backwater sloughs. Pheasant season opened with a bang on Saturday at Prairie du Bay near Boscobel. Hunters found enough birds to shoot at, and some ended up in their game bags. A few turkeys are being harvested and some doves still frequent the sunflower fields. More buck scrapes and rubs are showing up in the woods. Archery hunters are enjoying the cooler weather and getting ready for the rut.
Dodgeville DNR Service Center area Green County - Fall is in full swing. Cadiz Recreational Area, Brooklyn Wildlife Area, Albany Wildlife area as well as other properties are seeing a lot of pheasant hunting pressure in the last few days. The four-day antlerless season saw fewer hunters then in years past. A lot of the doves have moved out and hunters really have to hunt hard for their bag limit. The fall colors seem to be just past peak at this point, but still worth seeing.
Lafayette County - Pheasant season opener was good but few hunters. Pheasant numbers remain god and stocking will continue until gun deer season. Deer are starting to move with archery prospects good. Other small game is present in good numbers with turkeys being plentiful. Fall color is still good but past prime.
Blue Mound State Park - All trails are open to hiking. Mountain bike trails are open, but will close if a significant amount of rain is received. Please contact the park for current trail conditions @ 608-437-5711. The swimming pool is closed for the year. Water in the picnic area will be shut down this week. Water servicing the campground will be shut down the week of October 24. CWD Hunters with special permits may deer hunt in designated areas of the park in season. Special regulations apply for each hunt. Visit
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/regs/statepark/bluemound.htm for more information, maps and permits. Blue Mound Hunting Seasons include : Oct. 17 – Jan. 8 Archery deer hunting; Nov. 19 - 27: Gun deer hunting; Nov. 28 – Dec. 7: muzzleloader deer hunting; and Dec. 8 - 11 gun deer hunting.
Horicon DNR Service Center area Dodge County - Pheasant hunters had limited success due to strong winds. Waterfowl hunters enjoyed good success with an increase in goose and duck numbers in the Horicon and Theresa marsh areas.
Fitchburg DNR Service Center areaDane County - Fall leaf colors vary throughout southern Dane County area, but strong sustained winds have completely removed leaves from many trees already. Game fishing has picked up on the Madison Chain of lakes. Walleye fishing has been decent on Lake Mendota and musky fishing has definitely begun to pick up on lakes Monona and Waubesa. Muskies seem to be putting on some weight for the winter and some nice fish are being caught. Cool weather and strong winds have begun significant migrations of various migratory bird species such as song birds, raptors, and waterfowl. The colder weather brought in fresh ducks and geese. Large flocks of migrating geese are present in the area, however, the main migration is probably still a couple of weeks away. Farmers are harvesting corn and the geese are feeding in the fields regularly. Deer activity has really picked up this week. More deer are being observed and many bucks are already out and running around, so it appears the rut may be a little earlier this year in Dane County. Gun deer hunting activity and action were very generally slow in the area during the early antlerless season. Small game hunters had moderate to good action hunting pheasants on several stocked DNR properties on opening weekend of pheasant season. Large flocks of black birds and sandhill cranes have been observed congregating and passing through the area. Several peregrine falcons and saw whet owls have been observed passing through the area as well.
Jefferson County - Waterfowl hunters had good success on the second opener of the duck season. Some teal are still being seen as well as wood ducks. Most of the ducks observed in the bag included mallards, scaup and teal. Deer hunters are observing active scrapes in the area. Crop harvest is helping make deer more visible. Pheasant hunters had good success opening weekend especially those with dogs. Cooler temperatures helped keep the dogs cool. Numerous trappers were observed out placing traps opening weekend of the raccoon season. Fishing success has dropped off significantly on the upper Rock and Crawfish rivers.
Devil's Lake State Park - Fall colors are pretty much at an end in the park. Visitors can still catch a bit of color at the park's north shore, along South Shore Road, and along the Johnson Moraine trail. The turkey vultures are starting to migrate and it's not unusual to see groups of 20 to 50 vultures in the park. Golden-crown kinglets can still be found in the understory shrubs and a few juncos have been seen as well. Tufted titmice, white-breasted nuthatches, downy woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers, and black-capped chickadees can be seen on the feeders at the nature center. Small rafts of geese can be seen on the lake. Chipmunks, red and gray squirrels are still busy collecting seeds and nuts and are quite common on the bluff trails. Turkeys can also be spotted, busily eating acorns and other seeds.
Janesville DNR Service Center areaRock County - Bucks are making scrapes and starting to chase does with the cool fall weather. Deer hunters had good success harvesting antlerless deer during the four day hunt, but archers are happy to have a chance to go after a trophy buck during the early rut. Turkey hunters can now get back to hunting without being required to wear blaze orange. Recent rains have helped water levels some and migrant mallards will be showing up soon. Goose numbers remain high and many corn fields are getting picked ahead of schedule. Geese will be feeding heavily to get ready for their migration.
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Baldwin DNR Service Center areaInterstate Park - Fall leaf color is past peak; most leaves are down, the oaks are green to rust in color. Deer are active in the park and more visible with leaves down. Migrating waterfowl, raptors and songbirds are easily viewed from Eagle Peak and Horizon Rock. All hiking trails are open and in good condition. Campground flush toilet facilities and the shower building are closed for the season. Vault toilets are available in the campgrounds and picnic areas; water is available near the old park office building and in the Pines Group Camp.
Willow River State Park - White-tailed deer will be much easier to see as they stand silently hoping you don’t “see” them. Some will stand remarkably close to the trail or right on it. The bucks are starting to rub trees and even wooden sign posts as the days get closer to rutting season. A black bear weighing 650 pounds was harvested outside the park on some undeveloped land nearby. Black bears live in the area but they are rarely observed by park visitors. Trail repair on the Trout Brook Trail should start soon. The equipment is in the park to work on another small project first. There may be a short term closure on the trail while repair work is in progress. Look for updates on the Current Conditions web site. A crew will be out on the Oak Ridge trail to take down some trees this week. Please stay clear if you encounter the work in progress. The crew will tell visitors when it is safe to pass by. Trails are mowed wide for the coming ski season. Volunteers will continue work on one difficult spot for skiers; the down hill dog leg left turn on the Orange trail. The goal is to open the turn up a little without taking trees out. It will remain as a difficult corner to ski; say a “J” shape rather than an “L” turn. The Halloween Bash is coming Oct. 29 at the Nature Center. This is a non scary event for young kids. See more details on the Current Conditions web or pick up a flyer at the park office. The Nature Center has a new Bullsnake. “Alice” the Fox snake was an attraction for 23 years.
Kinnickinnic State Park - Kinnickinnic still has some fall color to come. Elm trees and the Locust trees are still holding green leaves. Kinni is an un-crowded alternative for weekend trail hiking or fitness training. Shore fishing is available in the St. Croix River along the delta area. It is a steep hill to get in there but it has a paved surface. Some people will carry a canoe or kayak in to gain water access. Visitors who find a downed tree across a trail should call Willow River with the information (715) 386-5931.
La Crosse DNR Service Center area Perrot State Park - Brisk fall winds have blown many of our leaves away and colors are rapidly fading to gone. The bay is brown with many wide open pools. Birds have mostly moved on and our local residents are stocking up on remaining berries and cold insects. Bumblebees are still buzzing around feeding on asters that are hanging on. Open water is appearing daily in the bay as our emergent vegetation slowly dies back. Water levels are returning to their normal fall levels and paddling is still possible but a bit challenging in shallow spots. Paddling is a fabulous way to enjoy or fall migrants and our resident bay birds. Fishing is mostly slow, with a few banger days here and there. Hiking trails are open and in overall good condition. All campsites are open and in good condition. Both shower buildings are closed for the season. The Bay Bathroom, with flush toilets, is open until some time next week. The Dump Station is available for dumping, but the water fill is shut off. Campers may still fill water tanks at our Park Shop building year round.
Wildcat Mountain State Park - Since the leaves have fallen it makes it easier to see wildlife such as pileated woodpeckers, deer, and turkeys. Coyotes can be heard in the evenings; geese can be heard and seen flying overhead. Be careful in the evenings as deer are moving more frequently. The shower building will still be open this weekend.
Great River State Trail - The trail and bridges are in good condition. Repairs are being made on bridges as staffing and weather permits, but bicyclists will have no trouble crossing. Indian Grass, Big Bluestem and Little Bluestems wave in the wind, complementing deep red Virginia Creeper and Sumac. Munching on grapes is encouraged for those who are comfortable in their identification.
Black River Falls DNR Service Center areaBlack River State Forest - ATV trails are closed for the season. Trails will re-open for winter use on Dec. 15 if the ground is sufficiently frozen. UTVs are not allowed on the trail during the winter time Fall colors are past peak. Oaks are the only species that still retain some of their leaves. The toilet/shower building at Castle Mound has been closed for the year.
Eau Claire DNR Service Center areaEau Claire County - Orange clad hunters are getting a lot of exercise as they follow their bird dogs on the open fields, grasslands, and wooded thickets at the 3,200 acre Tom Lawin DNR Public Hunting Grounds on Highway K northeast of Chippewa Falls. Pheasant hunters require a small game license (Sports or Patron), and a pheasant stamp regardless of age. Because Tom Lawin is a stocked hen/rooster property, hunters must also obtain free pheasant leg tag permit stickers. All hunters must bag their own pheasants or other small game - no shooting game for other hunters. Tom Lawin also provides some great waterfowl hunting opportunities.
Brunet Island State Park - Fall colors are past peak in our area. Most trees have shed their leaves early due to the numerous high wind days this month. Species of birds seen or heard include: ravens, a variety of wrens, phoebes, turkey vultures, northern juncos, piliated woodpeckers, great horned and barred owls, osprey, bald eagles, and Canada geese. The south campground shower facility, the picnic area flush toilet building are closed for the season. The camper dump station will be open as long as the weather allows.
Wisconsin Rapids DNR Service Center areaBuckhorn State Park - There are still some leaves hanging on the oak leaves. The boat boarding piers and accessible fishing pier were removed on Oct. 19.
Roche-A-Cri State Park - The main gate is closed. Parking will available in the winter lot on Czech Ave, park stickers required to park there. Parking is not allowed in front of the park
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