Wisconsin received its first substantial snowfall of the year, with up to 6 inches of wet heavy snow falling in a swath through the central and north central part of the state Wednesday. Lesser amounts fell though south central region, with the far southeast and the northwestern part of the state receiving just a trace of snow. Mornings have been cool enough to create a thin layer of ice across small ponds in the north, which has been melting in warmer afternoon temperatures. Temperatures are forecast to go into the mid 40s to the north and low 50s in the south by the weekend, so snow cover is not expected to last.
The state’s white-tailed deer herd is at or very near the peak of its mating season, known as the rut, and deer activity is very high. With Wisconsin’s traditional nine-day season now just over a week away, many biologists expect hunters will benefit from deer still being in rut when the season opens. Archery deer hunters continue to report very good success.
This week the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources launched a Facebook page and Twitter account. The Facebook page will focus on enjoying Wisconsin’s outdoor recreation. The DNR is encouraging hunters to share photos and stories from the upcoming deer season, as well as fans to share fishing, biking, hiking or other outdoor-related experiences. The page can be found by going to [
www.facebook.com\WIDNR]. You can find us on Twitter at [
twitter.com/WDNR].
Hunters preparing for this year's deer hunt are also reminded to leave firewood at home. Firewood can harbor pests and diseases that people can easily move with firewood from one place to another without knowing it. Threats to forests also threaten the enjoyment of hunting and countless other recreational activities. Instead of moving firewood, hunters should purchase or harvest it where they plan to use it.
Pheasant hunters have been out in force on the stocked public hunting grounds. Hunters are reminded that the 2 p.m. closure rule for pheasant hunting on certain state wildlife areas expired last week. Pheasant stocking will continue through the week of Dec. 5 on some properties.
Reports from waterfowl hunters indicate there was a significant increase in northern diver ducks moving into the state last week. Due to mild weather, woodcock remained around making for good hunting until the season closed on Nov. 7.
Fishing activity continues to diminish. Water temperatures are now down into the mid to low-40s. Nearly all waterfront property owners have removed docks and boat lifts and most anglers have winterized boats. But there are still musky anglers out, nearly all of which are dragging large suckers at this time of year. Lake Michigan tributaries are running low and fishing pressure has been generally light. While chinook salmon have tapered off, decent numbers of coho have been caught, along with more brown and rainbow trout.
Bald eagles are beginning to congregate, with large numbers spotted on Pool 8 of the Mississippi River and a golden eagle spotted on Pool 9. Eagles area also being seen along the Wisconsin and Fox rivers. Other raptors such as American kestrels, red-tail hawks, harriers, short-eared owls and rough-legged hawks are also being seen. Trumpeter swans are flocking up getting ready to head south and approximately 600 tundra swans migrated to the Horicon Marsh this week.
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.
Hunting and firewood Hunters preparing for this year's deer hunt are reminded to leave firewood at home. Firewood transports pests and diseases that kill Wisconsin's forests. These pests hide well within the logs, so hunters and other people can easily move them from one place to another without knowing it. Threats to forests also threaten the enjoyment of hunting and countless other recreational activities in the state. Instead of moving firewood, hunters should purchase or harvest it where they plan to use it. Most state owned properties have quality firewood for sale at reasonable prices on site or nearby. Or, move only Wisconsin certified firewood, which has a label from the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection on the outside of the bundle. A link to a list of certified firewood dealers is on the [
www.emeraldashborer.wi.gov] (exit DNR) website and on the
firewood regulations page. Hunters who want to take firewood from one home to another or to a hunting cabin, should not move firewood more than 25 miles or out of an emerald ash borer quarantined area. Doing so puts the trees at the second destination at risk. Maps of the 25 mile radius around most state owned campgrounds and more information about firewood and invasive species is available on the firewood pages of the DNR website.
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Superior DNR Service Center areaBrule River State Forest - Mornings have been cool enough to create a thin layer of ice across small ponds. The afternoon temperatures have been warming up into the 40s and 50s. Unless some precipitation comes, hunters will find the ground to be dry and crunchy. Not only is this an inconvenience when trying to quietly get to a stand/blind, it can also become a concern for potential wildland fires. Hunters are asked to be extra cautious with fire this season with the dry fuels out there. While many birds have been migrating through, some birds such as the snow bunting are reaching their destination here in Wisconsin. The 2011 gun deer season is fast approaching and many hunters are beginning to look through the carcass tags that came with their licenses. Hunters are reminded that the heard control tag is for herd control units only. A piece of the Brule will be heading to Madison next week. Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 1 p.m. a 36 foot tall balsam fir will be cut off of Stone Chimney Road and hauled to the Capitol Rotunda to be used as the 2011 Capitol Holiday Tree. Governor Walker has asked art teachers, parents, and youth all across Wisconsin to help the State of Wisconsin decorate the Capitol Christmas Tree. The theme of the tree this year will be Honoring 163 years of Wisconsin’s Veterans. Teachers or students interested in displaying ornaments on the tree must make their submissions by Dec. 1, and the ornaments must be based on the Honoring 163 years of Wisconsin’s Veterans theme. The ornaments can be mailed to:Governor Walker’s Office, State Christmas Tree Ornament Program, PO Box 7863, Madison, WI 53707-7863
Ashland DNR Service Center areaAshland County - Weather remains warm but was very windy for the past weekend. Most hunters found it hard to cope with and stayed out of the woods. The high wind speed also prevented any boating and or open water hunting of waterfowl during the weekend. The last of the leaves are now turning and or were blown from the trees. The deer continue to increase in their breeding activities and bears are still being reported to be active too
Copper Falls State Park - Water levels on the Bad River are better than they have been for most of the Fall making hiking along the Bad River popular over the past few weeks. Although the leaves are all down, it is still a beautiful time of year to enjoy the rugged beauty of the Bad River Gorge. Park staff has been busy prepping ski trails for the upcoming winter season in anticipation of snow. The park has opened several new snowshoe and ski -- both classic and skate -- trails over the past few years making Copper Falls a perfect winter destination for those who like to enjoy Wisconsin's Northwood's on ski's or snowshoes. Last year crews began trail grooming on Dec. 10. Copper Falls is open to camping year round. Sites 1-5 are maintained for campers during the winter months. For those already thinking about next summer remember reservations can be made 11 months in advance by calling 1-888-947-2757.
Bayfield County - Bucks are starting to be seen around the area with scrapes and rubs happening in the woods. Grouse are easier to see at times, but they are hanging tight to stumps and blow downs. At times the winds have been tough for the anglers to get out, but those venturing out are catching fish. Trappers have been getting raccoon, coyotes, and beaver. The fall has been easy since there has not been much for rain and no snow as of yet.
Douglas County - Colder temperatures have slowly been filtering into northern Douglas County and this change has brought some flight ducks in. Success has still been somewhat variable. A new sense of urgency is evident with archery hunters as the rut is set to peak in the next week or so. Most people have winterized boats for the year but some die hard musky anglers continue to ply the St. Louis River using late season tactics.
Spooner DNR Service Center areaBarron County - Flocks of northern giant Canadian geese appeared this week in the Rice Lake area offering water fowlers some excellent field hunting opportunities. Duck hunting has been especially slow as the local ducks have been pushed out by hunting pressure and we have not had much of an influx of migrating birds yet this year. Large flocks of sand hill cranes are staging on grain fields in the New Auburn area providing some unique music to local residents. Whitetail deer are rutting and car deer accidents are skyrocketing in the area. Motorists are advised to drive with caution all times of the day and slow down around likely deer crossing areas.
Burnett County - Trapping season is in full swing in the area. Trappers are reporting poor muskrat numbers. Trappers are reminded to report incidental catches to the local conservation warden. Hunters continue to report reduced upland game bird populations in the area. Hunters who are putting time in the field are still enjoying some success. There are some decent numbers of diving ducks in the area but not many hunters pursuing them. The deer rut is in full swing and bow hunters are having some good success. Several hard frosts in the area have taken care of those pesky bugs. Hunting dogs still need to be checked for ticks. Remember to lead by example this hunting season by always following safe gun handling practices and remind others of safety first.
Governor Knowles State Forest - The snow that was forecast this week missed us. The rut appears to be in full swing as the author witnessed a buck breeding a doe in the woods this week. Hunters in the woods are reporting some moderate success with squirrels, birds, and deer. One anglers reported great late season walleye fishing along the St. Croix River.
Washburn County - Trumpeter swans are flocking up getting ready to head south. Good flocks of mallards and other ducks are also being seen.
Ladysmith DNR Service Center areaRusk County - Fishing activity has been very slow with most people turning to hunting activities. Deer activity has varied across the county with some reporting little to no mid-day buck movement. Consensus is that the rut will continue into the nine-day gun season. Most local population of ducks have moved on. Trappers are continuing to do well on muskrats and fisher.
Park Falls DNR Service Center areaIn the Park Falls area, grouse hunting activity is slowing down and archery deer hunters are pounding the woods. Not a lot of rut sign is being reported and many hunters are complaining about not seeing much on their deer cameras. Waterfowl hunters are taking advantage of the fairly mild fall weather and light hunting pressure locally. Fall turkey hunters are not finding a lot of birds to hunt and many of the broods have very small poults which may not make it through the winter.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - Fishing activity on waters in the Wisconsin Northwoods continues to diminish with each passing week of the fall. Water temperatures are now down into the mid to low-40s. Nearly all waterfront property owners have removed their docks and boat lifts and stored them onshore in anticipation of ice-up in the next few weeks. Most anglers have winterized their boats and put them in storage until spring. But then there are the musky anglers, with many of them still trying their luck on a few of the local lakes. At this time of year, nearly all of the anglers are dragging large suckers around and hoping for that once-in-a-lifetime lunker. Recent reports indicate that the fishing has been slow, with many of the anglers finding musky hard to come by. There have also been a few walleye anglers still trying their luck, but success has been generally poor on the lakes. A few positive reports have come in from those fishing the deep holes and below the dams on the area rivers. Fair catches of “eater-size” walleye have been made, with medium fathead minnows being the most productive bait.
Price County - The deer are rutting and many archery deer hunters are connecting with some nice bucks. Most grouse hunters have connected with fewer grouse than they did last year. The woodcock have moved through and have been for the most part gone since the start of November. Fisher trappers seem to be continuing a trend of having a hard time finding fishers, compared to prior fisher trapping success 5-10 years ago.
Flambeau River State Forest - Deer are in full rut and moving about on the state forest. Along with normal hunting areas, hunters may want to scout out recent timber sales through-out the area. Fringes and heavier cover associated with these areas should be holding deer. The acorn crop was low on the forest this past year. White oak acorn production was better than red oak. Grouse numbers are down slightly but hunters up to bush-whacking off the trails and working the creek bottoms are still finding birds. Woodcock numbers and hunting was good. The Flambeau River State Forest allows camping through-out the forest during the deer season. All that is required is a camping permit. Hope everyone has a safe and great hunt. No snow up here yet, the storm stayed to the south and east of us.
Antigo DNR Service Center areaLanglade County - Winter is creeping in, with cold nights causing small bodies of water to freeze, but thaw out during the day. With the coming cold air from the north, waterfowl hunters should be preparing for some northern ducks to push into the area. Of course, with this cold weather waterfowling it is especially important to wear a personal flotation device while on the water.
Lincoln County - Deer rut activity is at full swing. Deer are primarily moving at night due to the full moon. Waterfowl numbers in the area are building with hunters having success on lesser scaup on area flowages. Musky action is picking up with the cold water temperatures. Musky anglers should be aware that pulling a line with a sucker for bait could be constituted as illegal trolling. The line should remain vertical in the water.
Florence DNR at the Florence Natural Resource CenterFlorence County - The bow hunters have taken over the woods in looking for rutting bucks. Many reports that the bucks are not yet serious about chasing does. Activity should pick up as November continues. Very few local ducks remain, and no large flocks of northern ducks have been seen or reported. The duck season has been very slow so far with only a few weeks remaining. Snow in the north should bring some migrating waterfowl and give diehard waterfowlers a chance at a few birds. Some musky action has been reported on the Brule Flowage with suckers, but overall very little fishing activity for anything other than muskies as folks winterize their boats and concentrate on deer. If you are planning a duck hunting or fishing trip this fall, remember your personal flotation device as water temperatures are now in the low 40s, and an unexpected incident could end up as a tragedy without a PFD.
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Peshtigo DNR Service Center areaMarinette County – Snow was falling Nov. 9, with some large flakes. Whitefish are steadily moving into the lower Menominee River; the bite is likely best towards dusk. Whitetail bucks are starting to rut. Deer are really starting to move during all hours of the day. Many hunters are reporting increased sightings and increased sign. Also, many more deer are causing car deer collisions. There has been a lot of new waterfowl migrating into the area, especially on the Bay. A push of diver ducks moved through last week offering opportunities to hunters and birders alike. Wood ducks have been gone for awhile. The will likely be a big "push" of ducks behind this front.
Governor Thompson State Park - Scouting has begun. The state park has seen an increase in visitors this week that are beginning to scout places to hunt for the nine day deer gun season, just a reminder that there are two refuge areas in the park. The state park has sold some of the old buildings that are no longer being used and they are starting to be removed to make room for new projects like a beach at the Woods Lake Picnic Area.
Shawano County - Whitetail deer activity is picking up in the area with larger bucks on the move seeking out receptive does. The deer are in full rut. A doe had to be put down recently after several onlookers watched it get gored by a buck for several hours. The buck would not retreat when a warden approached. He stood off to the side while the doe was put down. The buck was frustrated that the doe would not cooperate so he continued to gore her in an attempt to get her on her feet. The doe had broken legs, probably from a car and so she couldn't stand. Archers are seeing deer but most are waiting for the big one to walk by. Duck hunters are seeing northern birds coming down with the storm fronts. There was about 3 inches of snow on the ground in Shawano County Wednesday. That should help deer hunting if it sticks around. Waterfowl hunters are reporting good success on area waters. Diver ducks have moved into the area providing great hunting opportunities.
Peshtigo River State Forest - Deer are on the move, and so are the hunters with bow season underway and the weather starting to get colder hunters are excited to find the big buck this season. The forest had several early morning visitors this week who were scouting out their place to hunt. Old Veteran’s campground hasn’t had any visitors recently though it will stay open all year.
Green Bay DNR Service Center area Brown County - The rut appears to be picking up as people are seeing more bucks moving and pushing does around. The rainy weather during the past week has helped with duck and goose hunting as more flocks are in the process of moving around on the Bay of Green Bay and Fox River. Duck hunters have reported successful harvests and good duck numbers.
Manitowoc County - Limits of long-tailed ducks are being shot on Lake Michigan off of Two Rivers and Manitowoc.
Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area Potawatomi State Park - Many trees in the park are hanging onto their fall colors. All hiking and biking trails are open and in overall good condition. Snowmobile trails have been signed. Volunteers will be working on the cross-country ski trails this Saturday. The well at the campground shelter remains open year-round. Campsites are available year-round, with four sites plowed out for winter campers. Water is turned off at the shower building, fish cleaning station, and dump station until next spring. Launch piers will remain in the water at Sawyer Harbor until November 14. The park will be open to gun deer hunting Nov. 19-27.
Kewaunee County - The leaves have just about all fallen to the ground covering up deer scrapes. However the bucks are very active making new scrapes and rubs every night they are out searching for does. The rut is on and the bucks are active. A lot of waterfowl hunters have traded their shotguns for their bows and are heading into the woods. The pheasant stocking on the DNR lands as winded down but pheasants are still available but it takes a little more effort than it did earlier in the fall.
Wautoma DNR Service Center area Marguett County - The rut is in full swing throughout the county and archery hunters have been harvesting some very large bucks. Muskrat trapping has been very spotty with some areas being very good and other areas muskrat numbers are down. Raccoon hunters and trappers are reporting pretty fair success. The duck hunting has been slow throughout the county. Turkey hunters have been seeing and harvesting a lot of birds.
Waushara County – Heavy and wet was falling in Waushara and Waupaca counties Nov. 9. It was sticking to the shoulders of the road and grassy areas. Bucks are on the move. A lot of bucks with large racks have been seen this year. Rut is in full swing! Bucks are now moving 24-7. Should still be chasing does somewhat at the gun opener - which is earlier than recent seasons. Due to mild weather, woodcock remained around until the close of season (Nov. 7), making for good hunting until the bitter end. Trout should be spawning now. The water levels on Lake Puckaway have gone down after the scheduled removal of boards at the Princeton Dam. This has made access to areas of near shore emergent vegetation for waterfowl hunting more difficult.
Oshkosh DNR Service Center areaOutagamie County – The area received its the first snowfall on Wednesday. Lots of corn remains on the landscape because of wet fields which may pose some problems for the deer-gun season in about ten days. Bucks are in rut with many being seen attending does in the open landscape of Calumet, Brown and Outagamie counties. Many big bucks are being seen and harvested. Many of the car-killed bucks lately have swollen necks. Lowlands in the northeastern portion of the state have been inundated, with some rivers now flowing out of their banks. Waterfowl should be moving into the area from the north with colder temperatures, but wood ducks were still hanging around as of Nov. 9, mainly due to the recent warm weather. Waterfowl hunting opportunities should be good in flooded lowlands carrying ideal food sources. Quite a few hunters were having luck open water hunting this past week in the Neenah and Menasha area. In addition, there are still thousands of geese in the Fox Valley area utilizing the recently harvested corn fields. Rainfall has pushed prey species on the uplands, attracting raptors to those areas. The Killsnake Wildlife Area is a great area to view the many American kestrels, red-tail hawks, harriers, short-eared owls and most recently a rough-legged hawk. The local population of eagles along the Fox River are being seen in the usual places like Thousand Islands Nature Center in Kaukauna, near Lawrence University in Appleton and along the Trestle Trail in Menasha. In a few weeks populations of eagles will start to climb from migrants coming from the north taking advantage of the forage fish and modified climates along many areas of the Fox River from Neenah to Green Bay. Lots of sandhill cranes are still being seen in this vicinity. Trappers will be experiencing fluctuating water levels with the precipitation. Many are finding great numbers of muskrats with the past few years of wetlands being kept full. On Brillion Wildlife Area the Conservation Road Flowage should be near normal levels of water since the drawdown of the summer and the many recent rains. Anglers have been doing well with walleye in the Neenah and Menasha area, both on the lake and river.
Winnebago County - The Winneconne area is showing increasing numbers of diver ducks. This being said the good weather is not producing good duck hunting opportunities. Many ducks are being seen but few are being shot. The bucks in the area are really beginning to chase does. Many young bucks are being easily "grunted in" by hunters and can be seen chasing does in cut fields. The peak of the rut is not far off. The channels in the Winneconne area are producing good pan fishing opportunities as usual this time of the year.
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Milwaukee DNR Service Center areaThe fish are finally slowing down a little on the rivers, but anglers are starting to see a number of steelhead coming up, just not as many kings or coho. There have been some reports of brown trout moving into the harbor as well. Duck hunters report limited success on Lake Michigan. The turning of the weather -- no snow here -- should drive some more birds this direction. There have also been reports of a number of bucks chasing does throughout the county so it sounds as though the rut is in full swing in the southeast.
Kettle Moraine State Forest, Pike Lake Unit - All trails are open to hikers and in good condition, though some areas will be muddy due to recent rain and snow. Our first snow of the season on Wednesday and Thursday (November 9 and 10) was about enough to cover the grass, it will likely all be melted before the weekend. A re-route of the Ice Age Trail between Powder Hill Rd. and County Highway CC was recently completed. That portion of the Ice Age Trail no longer follows the same route as brown/blue trails, eliminating the winter conflict with the groomed ski trail. Cross country ski trail grooming this winter will be the same as last winter. The trails between Powder Hill Rd. and County Highway CC will be groomed and tracked for cross country skiing. Only cross country skiers will be allowed on those trails when the trails are snow covered (Ice Age Trail excluded). All other trails will be open to multiple uses and will not be groomed.
Kettle Moraine State Forest, Southern Unit - Rainy conditions early in the week have made the Southern Unit a quiet place. Recently, pheasant hunters have still been out in larger numbers. Archery deer activity has been heating up recently. Be prepared to walk farther than other hunters if you want to see deer. Many areas of the Forest are very busy with hikers and bikers, as the weather allows. There are still a few good weeks left of the fall hiking season. Once the snow falls, the Nordic and Scuppernong trail systems become our groomed cross country ski trails. Hikers should move over to the John Muir and Emma Carlin trail systems for the winter. It is a good chance to try out the trails when there are no bikers around. You can get an glimpse of why the trails are so popular with mountain bikers. The Ottawa Lake Campground is open year round. Reservations can be made until Dec. 1; however, they are not necessary for the rest of November. Drinking water is available all winter on the side of the contact station. All other faucets have been shut off for the winter.
Kohler-Andrae State Park - Migrating Scaup can be seen on Lake Michigan. These black-and-white ducks with bright yellow eyes often congregate in large rafts of hundreds of birds. Scaup are diving birds. They feed on aquatic plants and can dive to depths of 25 feet. Lichens are often overlooked by visitors. Fall hiking is a great time to search for these organisms which are a combination of algae and fungus. Lichens can be green, orange, yellow, brown, red, and even bluish in color. They can be found on the ground, trees, and rocks.
Lake Michigan fisheries team reportSheboygan County - In Sheboygan shore anglers have reported a few brown trout caught of the lake side of the piers, and chinook have been caught on spawn near the Deland boat launch. A few brown trout have also been caught on gold spoons near the Edgewater Power Plant. On the Sheboygan River the water level remains low, and fishing pressure has been generally light. Most anglers have had moderate success with spoons and flies for trout and salmon. Chinook, coho, brown trout, and rainbow trout have all been reported.
Ozaukee County - In Port Washington, shore fishing pressure has been light, and success has slowed a bit. Spawn remains the most productive bait, and most anglers have been catching coho and some whitefish. The water temperature near the power plant has been around 48 degrees. Flows in Sauk Creek remain low, and the water temperature is 44 degrees. Flies and spawn have both produced salmon.
Milwaukee County - In Milwaukee, shore anglers continue to catch salmon on spawn in the slip near the Milwaukee Yacht Club, and brown trout have now been reported near the McKinley launch. Water levels are low 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 can still be found in the Menomonee River near Miller Park. In Oak Creek some mature salmon are present in the deeper holes below the dam. Trollers working near the harbor have been catching mature chinook on J-plugs. When trollers can get offshore from Milwaukee, immature chinook, coho, and rainbows have been taken on flashers and flies fished about 20 to 40 feet down in 120 to 160 feet of water.
Racine County - In Racine, water levels on the Root River remain low. Numbers of brown trout in the river have started to increase in downstream areas, while the chinook have tapered off. Decent numbers of coho have been caught, with most taken on flies. The majority of fishing pressure remains in Lincoln Park, but a few anglers have also been successful near the Horlick dam. Fish were processed at the Root River Steelhead Facility on Monday, November 7. The DNR is finished collecting coho eggs, and the fall weir season is now over. DNR crews processed a total of 3,828 fish and passed upstream 1,798 Chinooks, 1,258 coho, 57 brown trout, and 18 rainbow trout. A total of 573 coho were spawned.
Kenosha County - Shore fishing in Kenosha has been generally slow, but occasional coho and browns have been taken in the harbor and off the south pier. Most fish were caught on spawn. Flows on the Pike River are low, and fishing remains slow.
Sturtevant DNR Service Center areaKenosha and Racine counties - Though the bulk of the fall fish run has passed, anglers on the Pike River report a strong catch of coho salmon and mixed results on steelhead and brown trout. Both hunters and wildlife enthusiasts have reported seeing an increase in deer sightings and deer sign in the woods. Waterfowl hunters and boaters are reminded not to forget their most important piece of equipment this fall, their personal flotation device.
Big Foot Beach State Park - Wet weather this week has brought down most of the leaves that were left on the trees. Hikers should wear proper foot gear and be prepared for wet and possibly slippery areas on the trails. Big Foot Beach State Park will host a 5K 10K Turkey Trot on Saturday, November 19. Visit
www.fbfbsp.org for more details. The campground is now closed for the season, and will re-open in April 2012.
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Lower Wisconsin State Riverway - Most leaves are completely off the trees in the river valley. The weather is cooling off, but some warm days are hanging on making for great conditions to be out on the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway. The loss of leaf cover and the die back of understory plants makes for easy and enjoyable navigation of the woods. While the canoeing and boating seasons have mostly come to a close land-based recreation is still in full swing. Hikers are out enjoying the property, and many hunters have begun scouting favorite locations Some bow hunters have reported success along the southern banks of the river, and the 50,000 acres of public land will provide ample hunting opportunities as the gun deer season opens. Close to 100 parking areas and over 25 miles of trails provide ample access along the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway. The calm weather and bright moon last weekend appears to have brought some Canada geese and mallards down to the riverway. A few small flocks of green-winged teal and wood ducks were also seen in the backwater ponds. Pheasant hunters have been busy at the Prairie du Bay hunting area. Squirrels and a few turkeys continue to be seen on various properties. Bald eagles are beginning to congregate on the Mississippi River near Cassville. Boscobel was treated to a fleeting layer of slushy snow on Wednesday morning, with more snow accumulating on the ridge tops.
Dodgeville DNR Service Center area Grant County - Bow hunters report that the rut appears to be beginning. Bucks have been seen during day light hours in the open fields and chasing does. Waterfowl hunters reported low waterfowl numbers along the Mississippi River Pools 10 and 11. They have observed a few more diving ducks in the area, but no concentrations of the often sought after - mallards. Walleye fishing continues to be poor through both pools, with occasional small sauger being caught and released. Panfishing has slowed on both pools, with a few fish located out from Wyalusing boat landing. This past Thursday's heavy frost and recent winds have brought down the majority of the remaining leaf cover.
Iowa County - Deer are in the rut and very active. Many hunters and drivers are reporting seeing bucks running during the day. Upland game hunters should keep their eyes open for woodcock in lowland woods and wooded stream banks. Small flocks of sandhill cranes are still present on picked soybean and corn fields. Snow arrived on Wednesday morning, but is expected to melt by the weekend.
Lafayette County - The rut is in full swing. Many nice bucks have been sighted. Pheasant hunting remains good.
Wyalusing State Park – The park received a few inches of heavy, wet snow on Wednesday, November 9.Hiking trails may have some snow cover, but with temperatures in the upper 30s Thursday and high temperatures for Friday and Saturday predicted in the low to mid 50s , the snow will not last long. Trails may be wet and with heavy leaf cover, trails may be slippery. Mississippi River stage at Prairie du Chien Thursday was 7.6 feet. There were a number of boats at the boat landing on Monday and Tuesday of this week, but no fishing report from the anglers. Bird sightings in the park include: blue jays, cardinals, goldfinches, mourning doves, bluebirds, red-bellied woodpeckers, hairy woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, red-headed woodpeckers, pileated woodpeckers, tufted titmice, wild turkeys, pheasants, various hawks, bald eagles. The large number of oak trees in the Wisconsin Ridge Campground makes it a great place to find red-headed woodpeckers this time of year. Flocks of robins and bluebirds have been congregating in preparation for their trip to warmer winter climates. The howling of coyotes is a familiar sound in the Homestead Campground. Raccoons are frequent visitors to campsites in the Wisconsin Ridge Campground. Camping and visitation have slowed to just a few visitors daily. To date, we have had one night since Nov. 1 with no campers. Currently we have had one site occupied since Tuesday evening and they will remain in the park until Sunday. A few more campers are expected for this weekend. The annual nine-day gun deer hunt at Wyalusing State Park will begin on Saturday, Nov. 19 and conclude on Sunday, Nov. 27. Only holders of a 2011 Park Access Permit for deer hunting in Wyalusing State Park (Deer Management Unit 73A) may deer hunt in the park. Wyalusing State Park is not open to deer hunting during other seasons or to archery hunting. No other species of wildlife may be hunted within the park.
Horicon DNR Service Center area Dodge County - Water levels have increased in Mill Creek below the Fox Lake Dam. The walleyes are currently biting below the dam. A reminder that the limits for walleye are three fish with a minimum size of 18 inches at Fox Lake, Mill Creek and Beaver Dam Lake in Dodge Co. Many 20-plus-inch walleyes have been caught recently.
Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area - Approximately 600 tundra swans have migrated to the Horicon Marsh. Hunters are seeing several northern birds in the Horicon and Theresa Marsh areas
Fitchburg DNR Service Center areaColumbia County – The area was receiving its first snowfall Nov. 9, with up to 4 inches of accumulation possible. Buck activity is nearing peak, with many hunters reporting bucks chasing does. Some large bucks are being harvested in the hill country as the rut progresses. Most corn fields have been harvested, eliminating that cover for deer in the upcoming nine-day gun deer season. There are good deer shining opportunities in most areas as the corn crop is harvested and the rut progresses. Lots of deer can be seen on most nights. Duck hunters are still reporting many flocks of wood ducks hanging around. The goose numbers have increased in the Wisconsin River area in Northwestern Columbia County. Field hunting has increased as the fall corn crop is harvested. The fresh snow in Columbia and Sauk counties has brought birds to bird feeders in large numbers. Large numbers of turkey have been seen flocked up getting ready for the winter feeding patterns. Walleye and sauger fishing on the Wisconsin River below the Dells Dam has increased this past week as the fall run continues. Good numbers of fish are being caught with periodic stretches of keeper fish depending on the weather and water flows.
Dane County - The rut appears to be in full swing and bucks have been chasing does. Bucks are being seen throughout the day and many bow hunters have had success. Bucks have been in harvested fields during day light hours away from cover. The gun season is fast approaching so now is a good time to find a hunting spot for opening day. Large numbers of mallards have arrived in the area and several very large flocks have been feeding in fields in the eastern part of the county. Large flocks of geese have also been seen in the area.
Jefferson County - Deer are on the move with the rut in progress and crops being harvested. Archery deer hunters are reporting seeing good numbers of deer lately. Many bucks are seen on the move even in mid-afternoons with noses to the ground. Pheasant hunters have been out in force on the stocked public hunting grounds. Stocking will continue up to gun deer season. Waterfowl hunters are experiencing spotty to poor success. This may be due to the drier than usual conditions of the area wetlands. The current rainy conditions may give us some relief and hopefully some migrating waterfowl. As with most areas the Whitetail rut is in full swing with many large bucks being seen and harvested.
Janesville DNR Service Center areaRock County - Waterfowl hunting is often overlooked this time of year with all of the other hunting opportunities, but this is perhaps the best time of the season to hunt. Many of the ducks that nest in Rock County have left the area with the early hunting pressure and cold weather, but migrant ducks are abundant wherever there is water in the county. Additional fall rain has helped many marshes and created some water pockets that are holding many ducks and geese that are on their way south. Some hunters will be taking advantage of the late season for ducks in the county, but many other hunters are focusing on pheasant hunting. Pheasant stocking is in full swing and hunters are taking advantage of several new private properties that have been opened to public hunting through the new Voluntary Public Access(VPA) program. These VPA properties are open to all types of hunting and trapping. Additional information about these properties can be found on the WI DNR website. Archery hunting pressure has picked up over the last week with deer rutting activity increasing. Car-killed deer numbers have also jumped over the last couple weeks, so drivers need to keep there eyes open for deer crossing roadways.
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Baldwin DNR Service Center areaSt. Croix County – As of Nov. 9, there was still no snow or ice in the area. Tundra swans are migrating through. Up until Monday this week, a wood frog was still heard croaking.
Interstate Park - All hiking trails are open and in good condition. Deer are active in the park and visible with leaves down. Migrating waterfowl, raptors and songbirds are easily viewed from Eagle Peak and Horizon Rock. Flush toilet facilities and the shower building are closed for the season. Road construction is complete on US Hwy 8 east of St. Croix Falls; all lanes are open to State Road 35 North. All park roads are open.
Willow River State Park - The big white-tailed buck has been spotted twice. There’s a photo of him at the office from lat year and he has the drop tine again. A six-point buck walked past the office in full daylight last week. Work is almost complete on the Trout Brook (Purple) Trail. The washout is repaired and the culvert extension is in place. There will be more room for a two way classic ski trail and a skating deck between the tracks. Gravel is laid but not spread yet. There is also new gravel at the trail head that needs to be finished up. Volunteers spent another eight hours on trail brushing, which will increase the trail width just below the Trout Brook bridge. The new culvert is in on the Pioneer (Yellow) trail where it heads down to the 300 campground. There is still rip rap and gravel work to do in there yet. The Willow Falls Hill (Gray) trail also got some gravel work this week. The work was done between the hill and Willow Falls. Leaves were scooped off the Willow Falls Hill trail to improve traction for winter trail grooming on the snowmobile. Trail work starts on the “North Side” system soon. Work has started on the Nelson Farm Road parking lot link to the bridge on the Trout Brook trail. In the best scenario for skiers, the trail gets enough work to set up an “Out and Back” on a Most Difficult trail. There may not be any skiing on it this season. Visibility on the trails is getting dim by 5 p.m. without a headlamp. Snowplowing stakes are in along the road and parking areas. Please do not drive over the stakes, vehicle damage is possible.
Kinnickinnic State Park - Volunteers continue to prepare trails for winter use. The Multiple Use trails on the east end of the park have been mowed wide enough to accommodate skate skiing. The ski trails on the west end will be classic only. Volunteers have been brushing trails for skiing. Staff will be there next week for some tree removal. The heavy equipment will be there, possibly this week, to shave down the one very steep hill. This will result in a hill that is shallow enough in grade to get up or down in all seasons plus it will link the east and west loops. A classic skier could get on at the St. Croix lot and ski the entire system, although the east end would not be tracked. Stop at the office to pick up hunting information that is in the box opposite the fee collection container. The Kinnickinnic office will rarely be open. Please self register for daily or annual stickers as needed. Your self registration receipt works as your annual sticker until you receive the sticker in the mail. We will send change in the case of over payment. Pay by check or cash only.
La Crosse DNR Service Center area Large numbers of bald eagles have been spotted on Pool 8 of the Mississippi River and a golden eagle was spotted on Pool 9. Larger numbers of diving ducks are starting to show up on the Mississippi River, but waterfowl hunting has been marginal. There is also an increase in swans and canvasback numbers. Walleye fishing has been slow. Mississippi River temperatures have reached the upper 40s. Some perch were being caught in the backwaters of the Mississippi River on worms. Shining activity has increased with standing corn being harvested. Raccoon hunters have reported successful harvests over the last several weeks. Raccoon trapping activity is also increasing with the advent of cooler weather. During the 2009-10 season, about 8,000 hunters and 4,500 trappers harvested close to 220,000 raccoons in Wisconsin.
Merrick State Park - All trails are open and in good condition. The dock has been removed for the season. Hunters are reporting some success. Fishing has been slow Water Lettuce and Water Hyacinth (both invasive plants) have been found in Pool 5. Please check your boats and trailers if you are in this pool. Signs have been posted at boat landings with more information on what to do if these plants are found.
Perrot State Park - Most of our leaves have now fallen but the oaks on Trempealeau Mountain still show some reds and golds The first tundra swans were spotted flying overhead earlier in the week and as the weather changes more will be on their way through the area. Some additional migratory ducks have also been seen.
Black River Falls DNR Service Center areaSnow was falling in Adams County on Wednesday morning Rutting activity in is full swing with bucks chasing does and many large bucks being taken daily. Thousands of ducks, geese and dozens of other migrating birds can be seen from the viewing platform at the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge. Pheasant and grouse hunters are having success between rain days. Smallmouth bass are still hitting along the shoreline of the Mississippi River near Trempealeau and trappers are having great success muskrat trapping. Trappers are having success with numerous fisher in the county. Please report all incidentally trapped fisher and otter to your local warden. Oak tree leaves are brown with maples and aspen showing bright yellow.
Black River State Forest - The first snow of the season fell Nov. 9 at the forest. Snow is expected to total 1 to 3 inches but will not last long with temperatures expected to be above 40 on Thursday. Early season deer hunters in the state forest appear to be having a good year according to their comments. ATV trails are closed for the season. For the first time, off-site camping permits for the nine day gun deer season can be completed online [http://dnr.wi.gov/forestry/StateForests/SF-BlackRiver/BlackRiver-rec-camp.htm] (scroll down to the gun deer camping section for the permit and information sheet).
Eau Claire DNR Service Center areaClark County - This past weekend there was a lot of animal movement in general. Trappers have been catching a lot of raccoons and fishers. According to one trapper, dry land trapping picks up when the whitetail rut begins. Muskrat trapping has been steady. More than 500 muskrats have reportedly been pulled off of Sportsman's Lake already. The excitement of the past couple weeks, however, has been the beginning of the rut. Numerous bucks have been observed chasing does and one buck was breeding a doe already. The Clark County Sheriff's Office reported that more deer have been hit on the highways in the last two weeks than in the last two months- an indicator of heavy deer movement. Please slow down as you're driving out there! There has been little fishing activity.
Eau Claire County - Over the last week the bucks have really started to move. I have checked hunters who have seen deer moving at all hours of the day. I have also seen a lot of car killed deer along the roads. Woodcock season is closed but I did see a last blast of birds that came through the last couple days of the season. A lot of hawks have been seen migrating over the last week and there have been reports of smaller hawks hitting bird feeders and eating smaller birds. Trappers are reporting good numbers of Mink, Muskrat and Raccoon. It also appears the number of Fisher remains high in the central forest. Many trappers have stated trapping with leg hold traps rather than body grip type traps so they can release incidentally caught fisher.
Brunet Island State Park - Deer activity is up; bucks are making an appearance during daylight hours in the park. An area on the mainland to the north and east of the main office, including part of the Nordic Trail system, will be open to a limited antlerless shotgun deer hunting season, with special zone 23A access permit only, beginning Saturday, Nov. 19 through 27. 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.
Wisconsin Rapids DNR Service Center areaPortage County - Rut activity in central Wisconsin is peaking, but the latest storm front that has brought snow to the area may slow it down and extend it some.
Last Revised: Thursday November 10 2011
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