Wisconsin experienced more seasonable spring weather in the last week, with cooler temperatures along with some precipitation across the entire state. The cooler weather slowed some spring activities, but many things are still well ahead of schedule, with reports of ducks and geese hatching clutches this week. The rain dropped
fire danger levels to low to moderate, but by Thursday they had already crept back up to High in northwestern and western Wisconsin.
The rain also raised water levels on some rivers, but most rivers continue to run below seasonal spring norms. The North Fork of the Flambeau River was running low for this time of year, while the South Fork was at more normal spring levels. The St. Croix River has moderate to high water levels. The Lower Wisconsin River was running about seasonal norms.
The cool weather slowed fishing pressure in many areas. The prolonged, slow warm-up of northern lakes has extended the walleye spawning season and delayed musky spawning. With the cooler temperatures, crappie and bluegill spawning is likely still couple of weeks off, so it could be occurring during the May 5 game fish season opener. Walleye fishing was good on the Wisconsin Rive near Stevens Point. Walleye fishing has also been good on Lake Winneconne.
Strong east winds in the last week have kept fishing pressure low along Lake Michigan and Green Bay. Some walleye action was reported again this week on both the east and west shores of the Bay. Pier and harbor fishing was slow, but when winds have been light a few brown trout and coho salmon have been caught. A reminder that the catch-and-release early inland trout season closes this Sunday, April 29.
Third period turkey hunters are reporting many hens are sitting on nest and tom turkeys have been difficult to call in, with some better action later in the afternoon. Leaf-out is also progressing rapidly across the state, making it more difficult for hunters to see birds.
In addition to waterfowl and turkeys, many of the early migrant birds are also now on nests, including woodcock, sandhill cranes and trumpeter swans. Wildlife officials are ready to begin aerial surveys of swan nests, hoping to again find a record number of nesting pairs. Last year, 197 nesting pairs were found, about 10 times the original recovery goal of 20 by 2000. Learn more about
Wisconsin's successful restoration of trumpeter swans to its landscape and what's next. Eagle eggs have hatched and eagles are providing a great wildlife watching experience. Swallows, rufous-sided towhees, yellow-rumped warblers, and white-crowned sparrows have begun to show up with the increase in insects. Hepatica, Dutchman's breeches, spring beauty, cut-leaved toothwort are blooming and trilliums began to bloom this week in the south. Marsh marigolds are still in bloom in many areas. June berries, or serviceberries, are flowering. Lupine is showing flower shoots and will be blooming shortly.
This Friday, April 27 is Arbor Day in Wisconsin, and more than 100 fourth and fifth grade students will be joining Smokey Bear and Alice in Dairyland on the Capitol lawn in Madison to watch a sugar maple, the state tree, being planted at a noon
Arbor Day ceremony [pdf; 4.5MB] at the corner of East Mifflin and North Pinckney streets.
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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.
Wildfire Report
Fire danger has been a mixed bag this week low danger when rain moved through some areas and high in places where rain was minimal or not received at all. In the past week, 32 wildfires burned 23 acres in DNR protection areas around the state. The leading causes were equipment and debris burning. During these fires, 17 buildings were threatened and one was lost. The largest fire burned 6.6 acres in Juneau County. Burning permits are suspended in some areas due to fire weather conditions. For information on fire danger and fire prevention search
fire on the DNR website.
Firewise Tip: Home ignitions can be prevented by managing the area 100-200 feet around your home. Check out the Firewise Landscaping Guide for ideas by searching
Firewise on the DNR website.
Northern Region Brule Dispatch Group Fire danger hovered in the low to moderate range this week. One fire burned .10 acre in Iron County. A high pressure area moving over our area the end of the week will boost the fire danger quickly. Fire crews continue to plan for potential danger in the blowdown areas of northwest Wisconsin.
Cumberland Dispatch Group - One wildfire for the week burned 0.1 acre in Burnett County. Emergency Burning Restrictions remain in place for the storm damaged areas in Burnett, Polk, Douglas, and Washburn counties. Burning permits are suspended for areas outside of the blow down in Polk, Burnett and Washburn counties due to predicted elevated fire danger conditions and concerns about potential debris burning hold over fires.
Park Falls Dispatch Group Over the past week, four wildfires burned just under 3 acres. Fire danger ranged between low and high this week, depending on rain received. A predicted high pressure system moving over the region is expected to bring cool and breezy conditions with low humidity which will cause fire danger to climb.
Woodruff Dispatch Group Four wildfires burned this week; each was contained before reaching a half acre. The public is urged to be cautious with ash disposal. Ash can harbor embers for a long time. When dumping ash from burn barrels or wood stoves, be sure to soak the ash with water, stir to expose any still-smoldering embers, add more water, and stir again.
Northeast Region Peshtigo Dispatch Group Four fires burned 4 acres in DNR protection areas this week. The largest was a 3-acre fire in Marinette County caused by an escaped campfire on private property. In this case, the campfire was burning during the daytime, was left unattended, and ignited some adjacent grass. The fire caused great damage to a camper trailer and an ATV, threatened other personal property, and burned into a wooded area. Campers are urged to build campfires in fire rings or designated campfire areas. If you have to create your own fire pit, choose an area that is away from vegetation, keep the fire small, and never leave it unattended. Remember that weather conditions during the daytime tend to be warmer, dryer and windier than nighttime you may need to put off lighting that campfire until the evening. And always, make sure your fire is out before you leave! Drown the fire with plenty of water, stir the ashes, add more water, and stir again.
Waupaca Dispatch Group Four wildfires burned one acre this week. A large Canadian high pressure system was forecast to return April 26 and to remain over the area through early next week. Relative humidity readings will likely drop to near critical levels and are expected to be accompanied by gusty north winds. On sandy soils, precipitation this time of year only alleviates fire danger for a short time.
South Central RegionThree fires were reported in DNR protection areas this past week. All fires were contained before they burned a half acre. Burning permits are required for burning after 6 pm in DNR protection areas.
West Central Region Wildfire NewsBlack River Falls Dispatch Group Over the last week fire control staff responded to 1 equipment-caused fire in Clark County which was kept very small in size.
Wisconsin Rapids Dispatch Group Over the last week 10 fires burned 14.61 acres. Most of the fires were caused by equipment. Two were caused by trains and one by debris burning. The largest fire was a 6.6 acre fire in Juneau County, which is still under investigation. A total of 16 structures were saved due to suppression efforts on a string of fires in Juneau County that were caused when a road grader threw sparks and ignited four separate fires along a quarter mile stretch of road.
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Superior DNR Service Center areaBrule River State Forest - Fox should be giving birth to their kits and baby rabbit kits have been sighted. Turtles can be found basking in the sun on the warm afternoons. Wildflowers are giving the ground a bit of color now. Flowers that can be seen are hepatica, bloodroot, purple violets, marsh marigold, field pussytoes, and of course the dandelions. False morels, or brain mushrooms are also popping up. Numerous bird have made their way back to the area. Some birds sighted are tree swallows, hermit thrush, eastern meadowlarks, brown creepers, pine warblers, field sparrows and flickers. Spring is here and is encouraging more people to get out to clean yards and burn the debris or warm up by campfires during the cool nights. Landowners are asked to remain extra careful with burn piles/barrels, campfires, and ashes from wood stoves. The cool and dry air that we have been experiencing can make the fine and dry fuels such as grasses easy to ignite and quickly turn into a wildfire. The emergency burning restrictions still remain in effect for southwestern Douglas County due to last year's blowdown. Because of the concern over the blowdown area, initial attack aircraft have been brought into the area for the fire season. To see a map of where the emergency burning restrictions are in effect search
Fire danger on the DNR website.
Ashland DNR Service Center areaBayfield County - Some rain and snow a week ago helped bring some moisture to the Bayfield area, but the rivers and Lake Superior are still quite low. Some of the steelhead anglers were doing okay, picking up some legal-sized fish in the tributaries, but they have had to put some effort into it. The smelt run this year has been very unusual on the Chequamegon Bay. It has become a season where smelters need to be at the right place at the right time to get a few smelt. Trollers on Lake Superior have been getting some catches, with coho salmon and brown trout being the staples. Some nice brown trout in the 15- to 18-pound range have been caught in various areas.
Douglas County - Rain and wind are the most recent limiting factors concerning outdoor pursuits in the far northwest. Although giving a payoff of a much reduced fire danger, the recent weather has slowed everything from ATV riding to turkey hunting in the area. The last walleye are attempting to finish spawning on the St. Louis River system. Smelt are also past the peak of their spawning run, but some good catches were still being reported. Recent rain runoff and winds have muddied the near shore waters along the western end of Lake Superior's south shore, but good catches of coho salmon, and lake and brown trout have still come in as conditions allow.
Spooner DNR Service Center areaBurnett County - Waterfowl observed near Crex Meadows and Fish Lake wildlife areas have established nests and will be sitting on eggs for the next few weeks (about 25 days). Hen turkeys have also established nests and will be sitting on eggs for the next few weeks (about 28 days). Panfishing on area lakes has been slow, the action should pick up as the weather warms. The St. Croix River has moderate to high water levels for up coming canoeing and fishing trips. Always use caution when adventuring out on the St. Croix River, water levels can change rapidly because of rainfall events outside of the immediate area. As the warmer weather continues please think about removing bird feeders to avoid unwanted black bear encounters.
Polk County - Water temperatures in most area lakes are around 53 to 57 degrees. Anglers were catching a few crappies, but the bite should just be starting, with water temps increasing. The next two weeks should be good for crappie fishing in the county if the weather stays mild. Turkey hunters are reporting getting a few birds. Overall, most hunters have stated that turkey sightings are down again for the second year in a row. Many feel that was based on two hard winters in a row in 2010 and 2011. There are still over the counter tags available for zone 4 for the fifth and sixth hunting periods. Hunters are reminded to register their birds on line turkey registration system or by calling 1-888-486-8947 Many hunters have still been going to the registration stations in an attempt to register their turkeys.
Crex Meadows State Wildlife - Many warblers are arriving. Indigo bunting pairs have been spotted. Marsh marigolds are blooming. Aspen are budding and the bear like to feed on their buds. A couple butterfly species have been sighted. Be careful not to confuse the small spring azure with the Karner blue butterfly. Karners arrive later and will have orange spots on them. The first birding tour will be Saturday, April 28 from 8-10 a.m. Call 715-463-2739 to make your reservation, cost is $5.
http://www.crexmeadows.org/events.htmPark Falls DNR Service Center areaUpper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - The erratic and generally cool weather continues to slow the spring progression of spawning seasons for many species of fish. Water temperatures continue to hover just below the 50-degree mark and this allowed walleye, northern pike and perch to all but complete their egg-laying for the season. But the cool temperatures have delayed progress of the musky spawning period and these large predators continue to trickle into the shallows to conduct their reproductive rituals. Expect this to continue for at least a couple more weeks. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass, as well as most panfish species, have been reluctant to move into the shallows and their spawning are still several weeks away as well. For fishing activity, just a few anglers have been out trying their luck for panfish and suckers and most have met with rather low success. Some decent crappie and bluegill have been picked up in the shallow mud-bottom bay on warmer days, but this has been a hit or miss proposition with the constantly changing weather. Sucker fishing has also been fair with some decent catches of redhorse and white sucker coming from the deeper holes on the Flambeau and Chippewa rivers.
Flambeau River State Forest - The water on the North Fork of the Flambeau is a bit low for spring but still making for good paddling for those brave enough to weather the colder temperatures. The South Fork is up and at a more normal spring time level. Redhorse are spawning along the river and walleye are in their second spawning cycle. Spring peepers are out once again. Visitors are hearing grouse drumming and turkeys gobbling in full swing. Hepatica, trout lilies, marsh marigolds, blood root, and spring beauties are blooming in the woods and Trilliums are not far behind. The black flies and ticks are out. Lake of the Pines campground opened April 15 and Connors will open May 24. ATV trails are scheduled to open May 15.
Woodruff DNR Service Center areaVilas County - White suckers are spawning on area waters many bird species are now on nests or constructing them. Crappies have begun hitting along fallen trees and brush piles on area lakes and muskies are finishing up their spawning period.
Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area - Cool weather prevails for at least another week stalling spring although some signs of spring exist. Serviceberry, violets, and hepaticas are flowering. Grouse continue drumming and tom turkeys still gobble. Turkey hunters find getting a tom to be more challenging as it gets greener and the birds become educated. A few brave souls have braved the cold temperatures on the Flowage in pursuit of crappie and perch. As a reminder, only 10 panfish in total may be kept on the flowage and crappie have a 10-inch size limit. All campsites are open and ready for the upcoming fishing opener. The water level remains 1.5 feet below fool pool at 1570.54.
Antigo DNR Service Center areaLanglade County - Fishing remains very slow on lakes and rivers. Turkey hunters continue to struggle with henned up and nonresponsive gobblers. Trees continue to bud, mainly maples, birches, and aspens. Little to no flowers yet, but with recent rains that could turn around fast. Black bears have crawled out of their hibernation dens and are hungry for an easy meal. Rural residents are reminded to be aware of leaving out anything that can attract bears. Bears, generally, are not aggressive towards people but can cause significant property damage. It is recommended to be sure no food scraps, garbage, dog food, bird food, or anything else that can attract bears be available for them to find. If a bear does continue to cause damage after removing the reason for their visits, please contact the DNR and the animal may be trapped or removed from the area.
Lincoln County - Turkey hunters are reporting that the turkeys aren't cooperating like they normally do this time of year. Hunters report that the birds get quiet fairly early in the day and get locked onto hens, which makes them hard to call. Patience and a little time will pay off when the birds break up a little bit mid-day.
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Peshtigo DNR Service Center areaAs a result of rain, snow, and wind, on almost a daily basis, fishing pressure has been light. Water temperatures are in the mid to upper 40s.
Marinette County - High winds in the last week have kept fishing pressure minimal on the Peshtigo and Menominee rivers. Fishing for panfish on inland lakes has been slow with water temps staying in the low 50s. Although water levels appear low, some adventurous kayakers have been taking on the Pike and Menominee rivers. Many hen turkeys have been seen along roadsides, sneaking off to sit on nests. Turkey hunters in the third spring period continue to report seeing or hearing numerous gobblers. Many of the early migrant birds are now on nests including woodcock, geese and sandhill cranes. Swallows and warblers have begun to show up with the increase in insects. Hepatica, Dutchman's breeches, spring beauty, cut-leaved toothwort have been in bloom for a few weeks. Trilliums began to bloom this week in a few hardwoods stands. Marsh marigolds (cowslips) are in full bloom in many low lying wooded areas. June berries and cherries are flowering. Aspen is leafing out. This is great time of year to identify and treat invasions of garlic mustard. Treatment could include hand pulling or treating chemically. Landfill any plants pulled, if left to compost in a pile plants could resprout. This is also an excellent time of year to identify invasions of honeysuckle to be pulled or chemically treated later in the year. Many mushroom hunters are getting the itch to find early morels, with only a few false morels being found so far. Marinette County ATV trails opened April 13 while the Oconto county trails remain closed until May1.
Oconto County - Bluegill and crappie continue to provide some good fishing opportunities at the Stiles dam. Crawlers and minnows used either with a slip bobber or free floating was been working well. Smallmouth bass continue to bite on both the Oconto River and the Pensaukee. Stick baits and plastics are working well. Walleye anglers out of Oconto Breakwater Park and Oconto Park II have been having success in 7 to 10 feet of water trolling crawler/harness. Forest foliage progress is at about 20 percent. Geese in the area are well into their nesting and broods on the early nester should be soon. Some turkey are already nesting and hunters are reporting that most gobblers are "busy" in the morning but seem more apt to come to calls later in the day. ATV trails and routes will open in northern Oconto County on May 1. The catch and release early trout season will close on April 29, and all trout streams will remain closed until May 5. Tribal spearing efforts in northern Oconto County were minimal this spring with a total of 4 walleyes speared on Wheeler Lake. No walleyes were speared on any other lakes in northern Oconto County.
Shawano County - Turkey hunters are having good success with good weather so far. Fish runs have slowed down. Some anglers were finding some panfish in the shallow water already. Baby animals are starting to show up and along with that so are the calls from folks who think they are abandoned. Please leave the animals alone.
Green Bay DNR Service Center area Brown County - The weekend brought warmer temperatures, sun and anglers. At Bayshore park there were 14 boat trailers and two pier angles. Five walleye were caught in total, but three walleye were kept using flicker shads and crank baits. They ranged in sizes of 21 1/2 inches to 23 inches and from about 4 to 5 pounds. The water temperature was 47 degrees on the bay. Turkey hunters have been reporting seeing turkeys strutting at all times of the day. Hunter's seem to be having success and continue to have mostly positive comments about the turkey hunting season overall. Hunters also have reported they enjoy the convenience of call in and online registration for turkeys.
Manitowoc County - There have been reports of boats doing well for browns in 8-20 feet of water, with spoons and stick baits producing the most fish. Occasional lake trout have also been mixed in. Kings are being caught to the south of Manitowoc on spoons, crank baits, and plugs in 15 to 30 feet of water. Some steelhead were being caught in deeper water. The easterly winds have made it tough for some anglers to make it out. The winds have also put a damper on pier fishing in Two Rivers and Manitowoc. Brown trout were being caught more often with spoons than with spawn sacs and dead bait. Some large fish have been caught with one reportedly over 20 pounds. Fish have sometimes been holding on mud lines where river water and lake water clarity differences occur. Manitowoc Harbor is now 48 degrees. The heavy rain that fell last week raised area streams and rivers significantly. Rain would generally bring in more steelhead from the lake if the spawn was still underway, but the spring run is nearing an end in Manitowoc County and stream catches are way down. There are still some lingering steelhead in the East and West Twin Rivers and they are being caught on spinners, spoons, and spawn with very light presentations. Many planted rainbows were being caught, these fish need to be over 10 inches to be kept. As of April 21 the East and West Twin Rivers were in the mid 40s, the Manitowoc River was 46 degrees and Branch River was 44 degrees. The cold nights and rain have again dropped area stream temperatures. Northern pike and smallmouth bass fishing has been somewhat dependent on water temperatures. Afternoons have been more productive because water temps may increase a few degrees during day and improve the bite. Fish have been caught on crank baits, plastics, jigs, and spoons. There have been very few reports of catfish being taken. Some anglers have been targeting carp with corn as bait on the Manitowoc River and in Two Rivers, some large fish were caught.
Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area Door County - With cool and windy weather dominating most of the week, fishing pressure remained relatively low. The weekend brought warmer temperatures, sun and anglers. In Sturgeon Bay and northern Door County water temperatures ranged from 42-46 degrees around the shoreline of the peninsula. Throughout the weekend several boats were out at Bailey's Harbor, the city dock in Sturgeon Bay, Egg Harbor ramp, and Ole Stone Quarry ramp. The pressure for brown trout continued as boaters report some success trolling in 6-10 feet of water with spoons and stick baits. Shore anglers were pressuring northern pike and walleye in Sturgeon Bay on the ship canal and brown trout off the Egg Harbor piers, with little reports of any return. The end of the weekend had good fishing activity on Little Sturgeon Bay, there were several boat trailers. One fisherman caught one walleye, one northern pike, and six smallmouth bass. Another group caught three smallmouth bass. Over at Sawyer Harbor, there were a few trailers at Potawatomi Park and there was one trailer at Idlewild Park. There was lots of activity at Chaudoir's dock. There were 15 boat trailers and a total of 12 walleye were caught, but three walleye were kept ranging in sizes of 19 inches to 24 3/4 inches and from 3 to 6 pounds. One fisherman also caught a whitefish, a perch and a smallmouth bass (all released). Flicker shads and stick baits were the favorable baits used. Steelhead and suckers remain present in Heins, Hibbards, and Reibolts creeks.
Wautoma DNR Service Center area Waupaca County - With the cool nights, the panfish bite has been a little slow in the Waupaca area. Several anglers have been trying a few shallow lakes but with limited success. Turkey hunting has been going well. Most hunters feel the turkey numbers are slightly down from previous years, but good success has been reported. Turkeys are beginning to nest. For the past week warblers have been showing up in the Waupaca area.
Waushara County - Trees are one-quarter to one-half leafed out, probably is about time to start looking for morels. Exotic invasive brush such as honeysuckle and glossy buckthorn are much farther along in the leaf out process - probably a great time to do targeted control efforts. Trout streams are getting a little on the low side -- some rain before the general opener on May 5 would be welcome. Catch and release trout season ends Sunday April 29. Deer remain very active feeding on new growth in fields -- be careful while driving. Fawning season is right around the corner with mid-May being the peak. Spring bird migration seems to be complete as flocks are not being seen anymore, just pairs of migratory birds instead. Some white bass being caught on Wolf River, but cooler weather has put them in a holding pattern.
Oshkosh DNR Service Center areaWinnebago County - The fishing in the Winneconne area has not slowed down. The evening bite for walleye seems to be the best from the Winneconne bridge. Hunters are still having good luck while turkey hunting. Hunters are seeing and hearing many birds. Several goose nests have been seen with eggs that have hatched. The nests had 6-8 goslings in them and appeared to be healthy. It looks like there will be a good batch of geese hatched this spring.
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Milwaukee DNR Service Center areaThe Milwaukee River has been a little slow along the shore, but some folks are still catching some brown trout and some Kings were being caught on the big water. The steelhead run seemed to go by early and fast with few fish being caught. Suckers are now running and some folks have taken advantage of this in the rivers. A number of large boats are taking their place back in the marinas and folks are starting to enjoy the sunny days on the water.
Kettle Moraine State Forest, Pike Lake Unit - Mallard broods are starting to hatch. Some newly hatched mallards fell down a sewer grate in West Bend and had to be rescued. Several prescribed burns were conducted this week by DNR crews on local wildlife properties, the Pike Lake Unit, and private land sites. Burning will continue for at least the next couple weeks - weather and site conditions permitting.
Lake Michigan fisheries team reportSheboygan County - The Sheboygan lakefront has had very little fishing activity in the past week due to strong winds and high waves. On the Sheboygan River anglers fishing for northern pike with golden shiners at the Kohler Dam have been quite successful. The river has high water after recent rains with an average water temperature of 42 degrees.
Ozaukee County - Fishing pressure has been low in Port Washington. A few boaters have been successful catching brown trout in the harbor area between the piers. Blue spoons have been the favored bait. Sauk Creek has high water after rain late last week, and the average temperature is 44 degrees.
Milwaukee County - In Milwaukee, when the winds are light browns have been caught in the harbor, between the gaps and outside the breakwall on dark colored spoons, including blue and green. A few coho have also been picked up with similar presentations. The shoreline along Summerfest is producing some browns with the most successful presentations focusing on minnows and spawn sacs, with a few additional fish being caught on spoons. Those anglers trying for perch have a picked up only a few on minnows fished on the bottom. Shore fishing at Jones Island has been slow. Anglers on McKinley pier have picked up a few brown trout while throwing spoons or fishing with minnows. Some more rainbows have been seen moving up Oak Creek recently, and a few browns have been caught on the Grant Park pier. Steelhead fishing is slow in the Milwaukee and Menomonee rivers, but Menomonee River anglers have taken a few walleye on leeches fished in the deeper holes.
Racine County - Small brown trout and a few small coho have been caught on the east side of the Racine harbor on blue spoons. Trollers report some success catching a few browns on spoons and crank baits in 25-40 feet of water. The water in and around the harbor has been dirtier than normal with an east wind blowing in.
Waukesha DNR Service Center areaWaukesha County - Spring turkey season is in full swing and hunters are reporting seeing good numbers of adult tom turkeys in the field. Public lands in southern Waukesha County are getting a fair amount of pressure, but there are plenty of active turkeys to provide opportunities for everyone. Hunters are encouraged to scout new hunting areas in order to increase the chance of success. Panfishing remains spotty around the county with some crappies and bluegills being caught on Phantom, Lower Nemahbin, and School Section lakes.
Sturtevant DNR Service Center areaKenosha County - A near constant wind for over two weeks have kept most small boats off of Lake Michigan and fishing has come to a standstill. On the few occasions there has been a break in the wind, anglers have been catching fish close to shore in a about 16 feet of water while trolling. Fishing inland lakes has been slow as well; however, youth and disabled anglers are invited to fish Anderson Pond in Kenosha which has been recently stocked by DNR fisheries. Be sure to check page 22 in the current fishing regulations for special Urban Pond rules before you head out.
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Dodgeville DNR Service Center area Grant County - A whooping crane from the White River Marsh reintroduction site stopped for a layover along the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway near Blue River on April 20. She is a 1-year old crane completing the last leg of her first return migration. There are at least four pairs of trumpeter swans setting up territories in the riverway this spring, plus a group of five immature swans who probably will not breed this year. The bald eagle and osprey nesting survey was completed last week, and again there are many active nests in and near the riverway. Red-shouldered hawk surveys confirmed breeding pairs and also recorded a Forster's tern on the river near Wauzeka. Painted turtles are hatching and headed for the water. Snakes are out basking on sunny days. Timber rattle snakes, bull snakes, fox snakes, hog-nosed snakes and brown snakes have been seen on riverway properties in the past few weeks. Morels are popping up here and there, following rain and warm days. Some have already been found on north and east facing slopes.
Iowa County - Eagle eggs have hatched providing a great wildlife watching experience. Folks are still finding morels. Garlic mustard is starting to flower and seeds are forming. Mosquitoes are out in full force in some areas along with ticks.
Horicon DNR Service Center area Dodge County - Turkey hunters are having good success. Several goslings have been seen in the county
Fitchburg DNR Service Center areaColumbia County - Lupine is showing flower shoots and will be blooming shortly. Trillium and marsh marigold are in bloom, and the first geranium blooms are also being found in woodlands. Many bird species can still be heard "showing off" for females - woodcock are peenting, pheasants are crowing and turkeys are gobbling. Turkeys were frustrating many turkey hunters during the second period -- many hunters reported that toms were "henned up" and non-responsive to calls or decoys. Three whooping cranes that were hatched last year were spotted recently at Paradise Marsh Wildlife Area. Prescribed burn activities are wrapping up in the county -- if wind conditions cooperate, one last burn will take place at Pine Island Wildlife Area this year. Join DNR staff this Saturday at Pine Island Wildlife Area to explore diverse and rare flood plain forests. Help plant a few oak seedlings to assist restoration efforts and hike along the Wisconsin River. Then board a boat to Pine Island to explore savanna and try to call in nesting red-shouldered hawks. Meet at the Pine Island boat launch at 9 a.m. on Saturday.
Dane County - Spring peepers and chorus frogs are singing. Birds are sitting on nests so to protect them, please remember to keep your dog on a leash from April 15-July 31 on DNR lands unless otherwise posted.
Jefferson County - Car deer accidents have increased in the area. This may be due in part to the does driving off last years fawns. It is a great time to travel to a marsh to view the nesting waterfowl. Do be careful, the geese can be aggressive during this time. Turkey season is off to a good start with rumors and stories of a number of nice toms being taken. The wildlife staff has been busy improving habitat on public wildlife areas through prescribed fire. Most grassland habitats require periodic burning to keep them healthy and productive. Whether visitors are walking, bird watching, or turkey hunting, please be aware of the surroundings and remain a safe distance from any prescribed fire in progress. Some turkey hunters have been unhappy about burning their favorite spots before they get the chance to hunt. Unfortunately it is the time of year that this work must be done. Also, crews have noted that turkeys seem to really like to go out into the blackened burn area after the fire is out. So, hunters shouldn't give up on these areas.
Sauk County - Walleyes are biting sporadically on the Baraboo River near Douglas Park between Reedsburg and LaValle. Recent heavy rains have raised the river several feet. Crappies are biting on both Lake Redstone and Dutch Hollow Lake. Some bluegills have also been biting on Dutch Hollow Lake as well. Several pairs of bald eagles have been seen around the Lake Redstone area. The 400 State Trail is in great shape for a spring bike ride. Canada Geese have been sitting on nests for several weeks now.
Janesville DNR Service Center areaRock County - Fishing in ponds and rivers has slowed down. Mushrooms were being found in the local area. Turkeys have been seen on nests and farmers are getting an early start to planting. The public is reminded to leave wild baby animals in the wild. Mothers may not be visible but you can be assured that you are being watched by her.
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Baldwin DNR Service Center areaWillow River State Park - Trout anglers are reminded that the early season ends on April 29 and there is no trout fishing for a week. The latest bird sightings are: barred owl, pine warbler, and a northern goshawk. The full list is posted at the office. Flush toilets and showers will be open on Friday in the 300 campground. The dump station will also be operating. The 300 loop is open to all camping. April rains have been good for growing grass. Work continues on the new north side trails. The road like work just north of the Willow Falls bridge is a trail under construction. These trails are not open to visitor use yet. Please stay off the trails since work is in progress with heavy equipment and trucks. If there is not a sign and or a map, the trail is not open.
La Crosse DNR Service Center area Vernon County - Wild turkey hunters reported fair success last week. Unsettled, rainy, windy weather created difficulty for some hunters in their efforts to anticipate turkey behavior. Rufous-sided towhees, yellow-rumped warblers, and white-crowned sparrows have moved into the area. Brown or Dekay's snakes are usually on the move during warm days this time of year. Generally, these snakes exhibit a major migration from their winter hibernacula in late April and early May. These small, docile snakes feed on worms, slugs, and snails and, in turn, are preyed upon by shrews, weasels, cats, other snakes, and some birds.
Black River Falls DNR Service Center areaBlack River State Forest - All-terrain vehicle trails remain closed for the season. Trails will reopen for the summer season on May 15. Once again this summer crews will be rehabilitating sections of the trail as part of a long-term project to protect the integrity of the trail system. Short-term closures of some sections may occur during the week, but trails will be open every weekend. All campgrounds are open for the season. A new shop and office will be constructed at Castle Mound in 2012. Construction on the shop has started and weekday campers may expect to hear some construction noise from 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. No construction will occur on weekends.
Jackson County -Anglers are waiting patiently for game fish opener on the first weekend in May. The game fish season is closed now on the Black River, including the portions downstream of the dam. Rumors about this section being open might stem from a pilot study where the Black River was open to walleye early, but this was many many years ago. Waterfowl watchers should try a hike through the Northbend Bottoms State Wildlife Area in North Bend. There are many public access points, making an easy hike into some of the best wood duck nesting habitat in Jackson County. Visitors who sneak up on some of the many back water sloughs in the area have a good chance of catching their annual courtship rituals. Turkey hunters were still reporting that gobblers are actively responding to slate calls. Several hundred spring turkey tags remain leftover in the later time periods. Keep in mind Jackson County is divided by multiple turkey zones, so hunters should refer to the turkey regulations for a detailed map of each zone. Black bear activity is beginning, so remember to keep trash and bird feeders away from hungry critters. The Black River State Forest provides some excellent bear habitat in eastern Jackson County. Bears will typically search for earthworms, insects, grubs and small mammal prey this time of year. Look for the characteristic signs of them turning over large logs and rocks. Campers are reminded to safely store their food or scented items in their vehicles to avoid an encounter. ATV enthusiasts should look for the spring opening of the ATV trails in mid-May.
Eau Claire DNR Service Center areaChippewa County - Turkey hunting has been a little slow. Many hunters are reporting sparse turkey numbers and very quiet mornings. Warm days have been good for locating panfish in warmer bays but most panfish are still in deeper waters. Reports of active fish have been mixed.
Wausau DNR Service Center areaMarathon County - With the cooler weather, bass activity has slowed on the Wisconsin River. Some walleye were being caught, mainly on jigs and minnows. Mayflies have hatched on warmer days. Crappies and white bass seem to be the most active below the Moon dam at this time, but some fishers were still boating a keeper walleye or two. Bow fishers are reporting success downstream from the dam in the backwater sloughs. Bow fishing was also heating up at the Big Eau Pleine Reservoir, with most bow fishers having better than average success. Water clarity is spotty with some reporting clear water down to a good foot and a half, while others report only 6 inches to a foot of clear water. Carp are plentiful in this body of water, and bow fishing action should heat up soon with warmer weather. Little to no biting insects. White-throated sparrows have been observed at local feeders.
Mead State Wildlife - Turkey hunters are out in full force on this state land. Hunters report that toms are gobbling for only a short a time after fly down, then shutting off abruptly. Most hunters say that the toms are still "Henned up" during the morning hours, and most success in harvesting birds is occurring in the afternoons. Hunters that were successful report that the birds came in quiet.
Wisconsin Rapids DNR Service Center areaAdams County - Turkey hunters had good success during the first two periods as toms were not as henned up as usual for this time of year. Several hunters said they kicked hens off nests, which is not normal for this time of year. Anglers were not having much success on panfish since the nights have gotten colder and walleye action is down since the earlier than normal spawn.
Portage County - Fishing activity on the Wisconsin River in the Stevens Point area continued to be good. Walleyes and bass were providing good action and crappie were beginning to bite. Some of the best action occured while trolling. Fishers are reminded the general opener on waters other than the Wisconsin River does not begin until May 5.
Buckhorn State Park - Visitors were out enjoying the weather this past weekend hiking, camping, boating and fishing. Great bird watching in the barrens area! Boat launches and the accessible fishing pier have been popular and have been put in early this year. Turkey hunting is going on. To hunt in the park and Buckhorn Wildlife Area you must have a permit for Zone 1F. Hunters with a tag for zone 1 can hunt in the Yellow River Wildlife area.
Roche-A-Cri State Park - The main gate is still closed but will be opening on May 5. Parking is available in the winter lot on Czech Ave, park stickers are required to park there. Parking is not allowed in front of the park entrance gate. The stairway up the bluff is still closed until a safety inspection is completed. Hiking off the trail in the Mound natural area is not allowed at any time. When the stairway is opened, users are restricted to the stairway only. There will be an Earth Day work and play day on May 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Advanced registration is required. To participate, contact Heather Wolf at 608-565-2789 or Heather.Wolf@wisconsin.gov.
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