Fall colors are now at or just past peak across northern Wisconsin, nearing peak in central Wisconsin and three or more weeks from peak in the south, according to the Department of Tourism Fall Color Report. Leaf drop is progressing in the north, providing better visibility for hunters. The fifth annual Wisconsin Youth Gun Deer Hunt will be held this weekend, Oct. 6-7. The hunt will be held statewide and is open to youth ages 12 to 15 who have successfully completed a hunter education program and have a gun deer hunting license. Youths must be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older, but adult mentors may not hunt. All hunters, except waterfowl hunters, must wear blaze orange clothing while this hunt in progress.
Wisconsin received some much needed precipitation, with some areas of the north reporting as much as 8 inches of rain over the past two weeks, with lesser amounts in the south.
The wet and rainy weather in the north, combined with high winds resulted in pretty low fishing pressure across most northern lakes this week. Musky anglers continued to account for the majority of the fishing activity and they have reported some pretty good action. Most anglers have still been using artificial baits but some have begun to use live suckers. Walleye fishing has still been on the slow side. Panfish angling has been fair and some good catches of crappie and bluegill have been made along the emergent weed lines. Crappies are beginning to school in shallow weeds.
Fishing activity was also slow in the south. Those who did get out found panfish active and musky action just starting. Musky action is expected to improve dramatically in coming weeks. Crappie have been providing some excellent action on Waukesha County lakes. Perch were being found in the deeper pools on Lake Winnebago. Walleye were being hooked around the reefs and the confluence of the Fox River and anglers were hooking bluegills close to shore on the Fox River.
Following the much needed rainfall this week, water levels have risen some on Lake Michigan tributaries triggering a push of chinook salmon upstream. Anglers fishing the East Twin, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Milwaukee, Root and Pike rivers were all picking up some migrating chinook salmon. Many fish were still holding closer to shore and in the harbors as well, with good success reported by many harbor and pier anglers. Anglers trolling out on Lake Michigan had a good when weather and lake conditions were favorable with catches of chinook salmon with mix of lake trout, rainbow trout, and brown trout reported. Some nice perch, with some in the 12- to 13-inch range, were reported on Green Bay.
The Mississippi River was at 7.7 feet Oct. 1 at Prairie du Chien, but was expected to rise after recent rain. Fishing action was good, with good bluegill and crappie action in many of the back water sloughs. Walleye and bass action was also good.
Hunters participating in the southern zone waterfowl season opener last weekend reported bags of wood ducks, green-wing and blue-wing teal, pintail ducks and redheads. Grouse hunters have been having good success, as grouse seem more abundant this year and the birds are more visible as the leaves begin to fall. Woodcock are starting to migrate through the north, but there has not been a major push yet from the Upper Peninsula. Large flocks of white pelicans can be easily seen on the Mississippi River on their way south to the Gulf of Mexico. Some of these flocks have as many as 350 pelicans.
Most whitetail bucks are now out of velvet. Muskrats have started building huts to prepare for winter. Their huts not only serve as protection from the cold, they are also an emergency food supply when muskrats cannot reach their food piles or other sources of nourishment.
Wintergreen, common mullein, white snakeroot, jewelweed, rabbits foot clover, and some of the aster varieties are still flowering.
# # #
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.
DNR Northern Region
Superior DNR Service Center area
Brule River State Forest - The fall colors are now past peak but still very colorful. The aspen are turning yellow and will soon give the area a golden hue. The Bois Brule River is flowing at 161 cubic feet per second (cfs). The 61 year average is 143cfs. Brule has received 2.24 inches of much needed precipitation in the last week. Scattered, brief snow was reported in the area on Sept. 16. Although it seemed like a lot of rain, it was only one-quarter inch above the September normal. September precipitation was 3.92 inches, up o.24 inches from the September historical average of 3.68 inches. Although this helps, much more precipitation is needed to overcome the deficit of 7-plus inches. As of Oct. 4, Brule would need at least 11 inches of precipitation before the end of the year to reach the normal annual amount of 31 inches. Brule temperatures in September were close to average with the overnight and day time temperatures averaging one degree higher than normal. The Brule DNR weather station recorded 69 degrees as the average high and 45 degrees as the average low. The Brule River State Forest will hold its annual fall public open house meeting Oct. 13 at noon at the Cloverland Town Hall, located off County Highway 13 between Skoglund road and Balsam Bend road. The agenda includes presentations by Brule River State Forest staff on their annual operations and projects including; recreation program, law enforcement, development projects, real estate transactions and the recent land purchase in the Town of Cloverland. Additional information is available on the Department’s Web site at [http://dnr.wi.gov/forestry/stateforests/] or by calling the State Forest Headquarters (715) 372-5678 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. With the deer rifle season around the corner, youth wanting to hunt for the first time need to look for a hunter education class now before it is too late for the season. To look for upcoming classes go to [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/es/enforcement/safety/upcoming.htm] or give a DNR office a call.
Park Falls DNR Service Center area
Warm temperatures continue in the Park Falls area. Fall colors are past peak and many leaves have fallen in recent rains and high winds. Recent rains have helped increase the flows in area streams and rivers. Anglers have been enjoying the beautiful weather and fishing success has been good. Archery hunters are monitoring deer activity and are beginning to see some nice bucks traveling alone toward the evening hours. Waterfowl activity has been minimal in the mild weather though some geese are moving with the north winds. Water temperatures are cooling and waterfowl hunters and anglers should remember to wear life jackets while on the water. Grouse hunters have been having good success and the birds are more visible as the leaves begin to fall. Grouse hunters are reporting more birds than last year. Bear hunting with dogs closed Oct. 2 and bear hunting with aid of bait or other methods is open through Oct. 9. Loons are still in the area but should be departing soon. State law prohibits shining after 10 p.m. from Sept. 15 through Dec. 31. Also check local ordinances, which may prohibit shining. Toads, frogs and chipmunks all begin hibernating in early October. Asters are in bloom brining some color to the browning vegetation.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - The wet and rainy weather, combined with numerous hunting opportunities, resulted in pretty low fishing pressure across most lakes in the Upper Chippewa Basin. Musky anglers seem to be providing the majority of the fishing activity and they have reported some pretty good action. Most of the musky have been found on the deep edges, with the shallow weeds also providing a bit of action as well. The musky anglers are still using artificials but some have begun to use live suckers. Both baits have been providing some good action, but look for the sucker bite to improve with the dropping water temperatures as we continue into fall. Walleye fishing has still been on the slow side, though a few anglers have reported some decent catches of 13- to 16-inch fish. Leaches and crawlers continue to produce some decent catches but medium-size minnows have also produced some nice fish. Some largemouth bass have still been found in the mid-depth cover and soft plastics have been able to entice a few 3 to 4-pound fish to bite. Panfish angling has been fair and some good catch of crappie and bluegill have been made along the emergent weed lines.
Woodruff DNR Service Center area
Area conservation wardens and guides report that musky fishing is picking up and walleye fishing stays steady. Musky anglers are employing the use of sucker rigs and reporting increased success. Anglers are reminded that dragging a sucker behind the boat while utilizing a trolling motor to propel the boat along the shore is a violation of the trolling restrictions and citations are being issued. A few largemouth bass have been caught, although they will become less active as the lakes continue to cool. Smallmouth bass have moved into deeper waters – about 15-20 feet. Perch activity is reported as sporadic but they were being caught on weed edges or in flowages with submerged wood in about 6 to 12 feet of water. Bluegills were hanging about the weed edges and have been somewhat aggressive. Crappies are beginning to school in shallow weeds. Archery hunters are reporting that deer appear to have moved or are moving into their more normal fall patterns with some nice deer being taken. Concentrate in areas with oak trees as the acorn crop is spotty this year. Recent wind and rains have accelerated the fall color process. Colors are past peak now and the winds have blown down many of the leaves. Waterfowl hunters are reporting success with geese but ducks numbers are down a bit. Grouse hunters are reporting a few birds in the area and are beginning to find them on the higher ground as opposed to the lower edges at the beginning of the season. Leaf drop is beginning making for better visibility in the woods. Woodcock are now reported to be migrating through the area.
DNR Northeastern Region
Peshtigo DNR Service Center area
Marinette County - Small game hunters looking for woodcock may have to wait another week or so as they have not had a migration push yet from the Upper Peninsula. Warm southerly winds may keep them to the north a bit longer. Few turkey hunters are taking advantage of the early fall opener as registration stations have been slow as far as registering turkey are concerned. Most whitetail bucks are out of velvet at this time. A permit is required to keep the antlers of a buck in velvet, which is available at no charge from conservation wardens. Rain showers prevailed this week just keeping things damp and encouraging mushrooms to pop up from forest floors. The Youth Gun Deer Hunt is this weekend with parents readying their youth with licenses and free First Year Hunter Safety antlerless tags from DNR Service Centers around the state. Walleye, chinook and sturgeon were being caught on the Menominee River near Hattie Street Bridge. Lake sturgeon measured 36-60 inches. Little River Boat Landing Area still remains a popular spot for anglers in pursuit of chinook. The water remains low and some anglers felt that the water was too warm to catch salmon. With the rain on Sunday the anglers were a little more successful.
Oconto County - The southern zone waterfowl season opener was last weekend, which includes along the Bay of Green Bay. Bags of green-wing teal, blue-wing, pintail ducks and redheads were reported. Waterfowl hunters eagerly awaited the opening weekend, as the northern zone opened the weekend before. Oconto Breakwater was the place to be for catching brown trout and chinook. Farther out on Young’s Reef and out of North Bayshore Oconto County Park a few limits of yellow perch were reported with 8-inch fish and a couple of fish over 10 inches reported.
Shawano County - The Navarino Nature Center will hold a Sunset Wagon Ride this Saturday, Oct. 6, from 4 – 6:30 p.m. Ride on the NNC wagons from the Nature Center around Pike’s Peak Flowage as we head toward the Wolf River Flowages. This is the only way to see the Navarino Wildlife area by motorized access. View waterfowl, fall colors and hundreds of Sandhill Cranes on the return trip. The Navarino Nature Center Contact person is Tim Ewing at (715) 758-6999. The address is W5646 Lindsten Rd, Shiocton.
Green Bay DNR Service Center area
Brown County - Fall colors seem to be at or very near peak along Door County although high winds and eminent rain could cut short viewing. The past week’s fishing was much improved from the week before when wind conditions allowed. Late in the week the perch cooperated with anglers reporting most of the bite occurring on minnows in shallower water from 10 to 20 feet near Bayshore Park. Outside of Sturgeon Bay in the canal, some nice perch also turned up in the 12- to 13-inch range. The walleye seem to be in all lull although with very few fish being reported, some quality lunkers still turned up off the reefs to the north of Chaudoir’s and to the south of Bayshore parks. Northern pike have been active on days that have overcast skies and rainy weather, with a few small fish turning up near Little Sturgeon Bay. Spoons and large spinners seemed to be the best bet. Some small perch along with catfish and drum continued to show up on the Fox, Duck, and Suamico rivers. Duck and goose hunters continue to have success on Little Sturgeon Bay and or near Idlewild Point. Many geese continue to show up in fields along with numerous turkeys and deer.
Manitowoc County - In Manitowoc, trout and salmon anglers had a good week of fishing both from the shore and trolling on Lake Michigan. Anglers fishing from the piers had a fine week from the north and south piers. On Wednesday afternoon anglers had an exceptionally good day with favorable weather and cold water temperatures producing a mix catch of chinook salmon, brown trout, rainbow trout, and a lake trout all harvested off the north pier. Anglers had the most success using a bobber and spawn sac combination or casting bright colored crank baits. Anglers fishing inside the harbor also had a good week. Angler pressure was concentrated around the marina and produced some fair catches of chinook salmon and brown trout. Anglers trolling out on Lake Michigan had a good when weather and lake conditions were favorable. Trolling just off the harbor in 15 to 25 feet of water with crank baits and J-plugs produced most of the fish. Smallmouth bass anglers had a great weekend fishing outside the marina or on shallow reefs along the shoreline catching a lot of nice bass ranging around 3 pounds. In Two Rivers, trout and salmon anglers had a good of fishing. Anglers trolling on Lake Michigan had a good early week producing some large catches of chinook salmon with mix of lake trout, rainbow trout, and brown trout. Anglers didn’t have to travel far from shore with action in 15 to 30 feet of water just outside the harbor. Anglers fishing from the piers had a good week landing some mature chinook salmon and brown trout. Most anglers were drifting spawn sacs or casting spinners and crank baits. Anglers fishing farther inside the harbor had a fair week of fishing. Most chinook were caught with fresh spawn around a hook suspended just of the bottom. On the West Twin River, salmon anglers had a slow week of fishing with a few chinook salmon harvested at the Shoto dam. Anglers were drifting spawn sacs or casting spinners and shallow running stick baits. On the East Twin River, anglers fishing at the Mishicot dam picked up some mature chinook salmon. Panfish anglers at the dam also had a good week of fishing with bluegill and pumpkinseed biting on a worm and bobber combination. On the Manitowoc River, anglers fishing at Mill Road had a fair week picking up some migrating chinook salmon. Fishing was a little slow with a low catch rate although a couple nice Chinooks were caught on Friday afternoon with a spawn sac and bobber combination set shallow and drifted in the current. Bass anglers had a good weekend fishing at Lower Cato Falls County Park using tube jigs and stick baits.
Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area
Door County – For the most part the weather this week remained bright and sunny with seasonable temperatures. Please remember that there are still burning bans in effect in portions of Door County, with some areas requiring permits, be careful with fire. Again this week, strong winds made for less than ideal conditions for anglers venturing out on the water. Those anglers able to get out on Lake Michigan found that there are still plenty of younger fish out there. Anglers trolling the big lake brought fair numbers of fish caught on fly and dodger combinations fished 30 to 100 feet down over 180 to 300 feet of water. Good success continued to be reported by anglers trolling in the Sturgeon Bay ship canal and areas of Sturgeon Bay. Anglers fishing from shore were still catching some nice fish from the piers on the Lake Michigan end of the canal and along the canal shore. Conditions were much the same in the Baileys Harbor area with those anglers who could gat out doing well trolling both North and South of town. Up north, Washington Island, Ellison Bay and Rowley’s Bay also were producing some fish. Nice fish are being taken from all of the northern Door harbors. Smallmouth bass action was fair to good for anglers fishing the deeper structure using tube jigs and goby imitating baits all over the county. Most of the smallmouth reportedly were coming structure in 15 to 35 feet of water. Again this week some nice walleyes were reportedly taken from 17 to 25 feet of water around Larsen’s Reef, Monument Shoals and the areas around Strawberry and Chambers islands. Crank baits were remained the choice during daylight hours, with crawler harnesses producing the most walleyes from about 5 pm to midnight. Perch remained scattered this week. As in the past, decent numbers of perch were taken from the deeper waters, 20 to 30 feet, off of Chaudoir’s dock. Little Sturgeon and Sand Bay also produced some perch, along with the weed edges between the bridges in Sturgeon Bay and along the buoy line from the Bay View Bridge to the Sturgeon Bay ship canal. Minnows fished under a slip bobber were the bait of choice for most of the perch anglers. Northern pike fishing was good to very good. Crank baits along with jerk baits and various spoons fished along the weed beds in front of the marines and along the channel in Sturgeon Bay, as well as in Little Sturgeon, Riley’s and Sand Bays all produced some big northerns. The areas over deep water weed edges in 15 to 25 feet of water were productive for most of the bigger pike.
Strawberry Creek Spawning Facility - The pump that supplies supplemental water to Strawberry Creek has been running since Friday, Sept. 28 and the chinook salmon have started their spawning run at Strawberry Creek. On Monday, Oct. 1, crews conducted the first chinook harvest. They removed more than 400 chinook from the pond and collected the first batch of about 330,000 chinook eggs for the hatchery system. The chinook are coming up the creek in good numbers and crews have scheduled the next chinook harvest at Strawberry Creek for Thursday, Oct. 4. Additionally, they are looking ahead to next week and are planning another chinook harvest at Strawberry Creek on Monday, Oct. 8. On both days, Oct. 4 and 8, we will try to be processing fish by 9 a.m.
Peninsula State Park - Fall colors are slowly starting to emerge( less than 20 percent). Plants and trees in the park are very stressed due to dry conditions. The next two weekends will be very busy as tree colors start to emerge and visitors enjoy festivals in the local villages. All trails are in good condition. Water levels in Green Bay and Lake Michigan are still very low, approximately 18 inches below the long-term average. Despite recent rains, conditions remain dry. Peninsula is under a campfire advisory. Keep your fires small and tended! On Saturday, October 6 there will be a Spooktacular Hike from 5 to 7 p.m., at Nicolet Bay. Peninsula State Park golf course remains open and tee times are generally available. American Folklore Theatre’s summer season in the park is over.
Whitefish Dunes State Park - With fall color at peak, the park is delighting day trippers, dog walkers, and hikers alike. The maples and birches glow red, orange and yellow against the cedar and rock backdrop. Bring a jacket, winds are off the lake making for a cool hike along the beach. Recommended hike - Yellow Trail at 4 miles. Hidden treat is the low rolling dunes behind Old Baldy. Porcupines and deer are seen daily.
Kewaunee County - A week of warm and windy weather with some rain made for a week with changing weather conditions each day. Water temperatures out in the lake are still fairly uniform from the surface down, and they are holding in the 50s. Anglers fishing off of the piers in Algoma and Kewaunee have had a decent week of fishing off the piers. Cohos and kings were being reported almost everyday, but not in very large numbers on most of the days. Casting with spoons or crank baits has been the best tackle, but spawn sacs have been working as well. With low water levels in the rivers not many fish are moving up right now, but there still are some fish being caught up the rivers. Many fish are starting to hold closer to shore and in the harbors as well. Anglers that have been trolling out on the lake have been coming in with some fish, but it has been tough fishing out on the lake this last week. Most boats are coming in with Kings, but there have been some browns, cohos, and steelhead being caught as well. Anglers this week have been trolling in the shallow waters outside of the harbors and along the shore. The best choice for tackle has been spoons and stick baits however some anglers were still using some flies and flashers. Anglers have also been casting spoons from boats inside of the break walls or just outside of them.
Oshkosh DNR Service Center area
Upper Fox-Wolf basin fisheries report - With the warmer air temperatures, warmer water temperatures have found and have slowed some of the fishing down a bit. Perch were being found in the deeper pools (14 to 16 feet) in Lake Winnebago. Walleye were being hooked around the reefs and the confluence of the Fox River. Perch were being hooked south of Stoney Beach down to Fond du Lac. White bass fishing has been spotty. Anglers were hooking bluegills close to shore on the Fox River. White bass, crappie and perch were being hooked on the Wolf River and Lake Poygan. Walleye activity is very slow in these systems. Northerns were still being hooked in the Wolf River. Anglers were getting between 30 to 40 white bass in pockets. Bluegills were still being found in the channels.
DNR Southeast Region
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
After some much needed rainfall on Monday, water levels have risen somewhat on Lake Michigan tributaries in Southeast Wisconsin, triggering a push of chinook salmon upstream.
Sheboygan County - In Sheboygan fishing on the Pigeon River has been slow, but some chinooks have been caught out of the Sheboygan River in Esslingen Park and the River wildlife area. Fishing off the piers has been generally slow, although a few coho, browns, and lake trout have been taken on spoons, spawn, or alewives. Trollers working in and around the Sheboygan harbor have been catching mostly chinooks and a few coho on crankbaits, spoons, or J-plugs.
Ozaukee County - Shore anglers in Port Washington have been catching fair numbers of chinooks and browns near the power plant and in the west slip. Most of those fish have been hitting spawn sacs. A few chinooks and coho have also been taken off the pier on crankbaits and spoons. Most trollers in Port Washington have been sticking close to the harbor, with chinooks and occasional browns taken in 20 to 50 feet of water on J-plugs or spoons.
Milwaukee County - In Milwaukee a few chinooks have been caught in the Menomonee River at Miller Park and in the Milwaukee River below the Estabrook dam. At the lakefront a few rainbows and small brown trout have been caught behind the Summerfest grounds, and McKinley pier and Veterans Park have been providing some chinooks. Glow spoons have worked well for shore anglers, and a few fish were taken on blue & silver spoons as well. Trollers in Milwaukee have been concentrating in the harbor and have been catching good numbers of chinooks with occasional browns and rainbows.
Racine County - In Racine shore anglers have been catching chinooks and a few rainbows off the piers and in the basin near the boat launch. Green and silver and green glow spoons have been the most effective. Trollers have been working in and around the harbor mouth and have been catching chinooks and a few coho on spoons and J-plugs. In upstream stretches of the Root River, some chinooks have been caught in Colonial and Quarry Lake Parks. Egg pattern flies as well as woolley buggers and egg sucking leeches have produced the most fish. Anglers in the downstream stretches of the Root have found chinooks and occasional browns and coho in Washington Park and farther downriver. Flies as well as spawn have been producing. The Root River Steelhead Facility is running, and approximately 700 chinooks were passed upriver on Monday. Fish will be processed again on Thursday.
Kenosha County - Shore fishing in Kenosha has picked up, with chinooks, browns, and coho caught on spawn in the harbor. Chinook have finally moved into the Pike River, and a few have been taken on spawn in the lower stretches of the river. Kenosha trollers have been catching chinooks in 30 to 50 feet of water off the mouth of the Pike River. Fish have been hitting spoons and J-plugs in green or silver.
Inland fisheries team report
Fishing activity has slowed in the region. Those who did get out found panfish active and musky action just starting.
Washington, eastern Fond du Lac, and inland Sheboygan counties - Fishing action has been light lately and reports have been few. Musky action is expected to improve dramatically in coming weeks. There has been some discussion on "trolling" techniques used for musky. Page 16 of the fishing regulations outlines the legal use of equipment in "position" fishing versus trolling. Row trolling with oars is an effective and legal way to fish for musky and northern pike on all waters. It's also a good way to get a little exercise while pursuing those big fish over deep water and along weed lines. The trout season closed with a whisper. Brook and brown trout will start moving upstream to preferred spawning habitat over the next few weeks. They can be observed spawning in many locations during late October and early November.
Waukesha County - Area lakes have been producing nice catches of fall panfish over the past week. Crappie have been providing excellent action on Pewaukee, Silver and Beaver lakes. Nice creels have been reported over deep weed flats. Try slip bobbers and fatheads. Musky action has been very slow but some anglers have been reporting action on cranks and jerk baits.
DNR South Central Region
Dodgeville DNR Service Center area
Grant County - This past weekend saw the southern zone waterfowl opener. Wood ducks and teal comprised the bulk of those birds seen and the makeup of the daily bag limit. Hunters commented on the large numbers of white pelicans in Mississippi River pools #10 and #11. A few geese were observed in the area as well, but most remained out of range of the hunters. Anglers reported that the bluegills were biting on the Mississippi River near Bertom Lake south of Far Nuff boat landing. A few anglers reported catching crappies, but they were few and far between and small in size. Walleye and bass anglers reported good catches of smallmouth bass as well as walleye and sauger. Many were fishing the wing dams and mouths of small streams entering the Mississippi River.
Wyalusing State Park – Mississippi River water levels have dropped to normal for this time of year. River level at Prairie du Chien last week was 7.4 feet. Fall color is not at peak, but each day the bluffs seem to change. Sugar maples continue to be the most colorful, with many sporting brilliant patches of orange. Staghorn sumac has turned a deep scarlet. Bluffs have various shades of green, rust, and yellow. Fall colors in this area usually peak around the second weekend in October, but that can vary based on weather. Some trails remain closed due to washouts and mudslides. Hikers can hike to Pictured Rock Cave from the parking lot for Sugar Maple Nature Trail, but the rest of that trail is not open. The walkway to Point Lookout is open. Bluff Trail to Treasure Cave is now open. The road to the boat landing is open, but Homestead Hill Road remains closed. Tuesday, Sept. 25, marked the last day of hummingbirds at the feeders at the park office. Recent bird sightings include: yellow-bellied sapsucker, hairy woodpecker, downy woodpecker, pileated woodpecker, red headed woodpecker, red-bellied woodpecker, northern flicker, white- breasted nuthatch, red-breasted nuthatch, chipping sparrow, tufted titmice, phoebe, ruby crowned kinglet, Wilson’s warbler, black-throated green warbler, yellow rumped warbler, Nashville warbler, blue jay, chickadee, cardinal, cedar waxwing. A number of raptors have also been sighted: broad-winged hawks, (approximately 250 reported on Monday), bald eagle, turkey vultures, red-shouldered hawk, peregrine falcon, kestrel, sharp-shinned, coopers, red-tailed hawk, northern harrier, and one possible goshawk. Large flocks of white pelicans can be easily seen on the Mississippi River on their way south to the Gulf of Mexico. Some of these flocks have as many as 350 pelicans. Starplitters of Wyalusing will present the last two Astronomy Programs of 2007 on Saturday, Oct. 13 and Saturday, Oct. 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lawrence Huser Astronomy Center.
Fitchburg DNR Service Center area
Sauk County
Devil’s Lake State Park - Fall colors are just beginning, with the staghorn sumac and Virginia creeper showing the earliest color at their deep intense reds. A few trees are partly colored, but 90 percent of the trees are still green. The peak, duration, and intensity of fall color season are impossible to predict, since they are greatly affected by humidity, temperature, weather, and wind and who-knows-what! In general, Oct. 12-21 may be the best bet for seeing nice fall colors at Devil's Lake, but there'll be some color before and after that time. Hunting is allowed in portions of the park. This fall, deer hunting seasons in the park are Oct. 18-21 (till noon only), and regular gun deer season Nov. 17 through Dec. 9. Bow hunting is allowed Nov. 17 – Jan. 6. Mountain bike trails are temporarily closed because muddy conditions make the trails vulnerable to further damage. The Friends of Devil’s Lake State Park will host their annual Autumn Candlelight Walk Saturday, Oct. 27 at the north shore of the lake, beginning at the Rock Elm Shelter. Join us for a pleasant 1.5-mile walk along a candlelit trail through the woods and campground on a crisp autumn evening. Refreshments will be available, along with a crackling warming fire. There is no fee for this event, but a valid vehicle admission sticker is required on all cars.
DNR West Central Region
Baldwin DNR Service Center area
St. Croix County
Willow River State Park - As of Oct. 2, fall color has been developing well in the park’s valley areas on maple, ash, locust, and popple trees. The area up top still has more green leaves than fall color. Big winds and rain took a lot of leaves down. Expect to see more color on the weekend of Oct. 13-14. Water is turned off in all campground and day use bathrooms. Pit toilets are open in the beach area and in the campground by site # 62. Campers with tanks and small water containers may load water at the service building just down the hill from the office building. Campers may unload at the dump station but there is no rinse or refill water. Day visitors may pick up water at the office. Flush toilets, showers, and the dump station will remain closed until May, 2008. Saturday trail work will continue Oct. 13. Primarily, it’s the Willow River Nordic Ski club members doing the work, but any one is welcome to help. Call the park office for specific information (715) 386-5931. Tuesday evening dry land training continues for Nordic skiers. Meet at the Nature Center at 5:30 pm.
La Crosse DNR Service Center area
Many of Wisconsin's hunting season are now open. This may be a great time to take a kid or new hunter into the woods to share time and experience. Experienced hunters can play a major role in development of new hunters. One thing that they can share is safety topics related to leaf-on conditions, where leaves are still on the trees. This makes it more difficult to see game and patience is needed for a couple of reasons. First and foremost is safety, every hunter should make sure of there target and what is beyond and follow all other hunting safety rules this will help in preserving our great hunting heritage in the State and make sure we all can come home safely. Waterfowl hunters on Lake Onalaska saw light to moderate action on wood ducks, teal, mallards and Canada geese over the opening weekend. A few hunters harvested American widgeon and pintails. The number of hunters out on Lake Onalaska was visibly down from previous seasons. Most hunters found wood ducks the only duck in their bag for the duck opener on pool 8 in La Crosse County. Some hunters bagged a few teal, mallards and pintail. Warm temperatures continue to hold good numbers of Wood ducks in the area. Several hunters reported success harvesting fall turkey and whitetail deer. Archers have been discouraged by warm temperatures, but deer movement is on the increase as are car - deer accidents as we approach the rut. Archers are reminded of the blaze orange requirement during this weekend youth deer gun hunt. Many squirrel hunters have been enjoying great success. All hunters are reminded of the Youth deer hunt this weekend and the blaze orange requirements, but it's always a good idea to wear blaze orange while squirrel, grouse and pheasant hunting. Crappie fishers were having moderate success on the Mississippi River jigging structures along area sloughs. Walleye fishers were having some good success trolling and jigging wing dams. Crappie were being found in submerged trees; walleye were on the wing dams; bass anglers were finding a good fall bite going on. Since insects are less abundant in October, birds that feed mainly on seeds and berries are present in the area: robins, bluebirds, sparrows, thrushes, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and bluejays. Although a few insect-eating birds, such as phoebes, still remain, most of the insect eaters -- nighthawks, chimney swifts, kingbirds, fltcatchers, and swallows -- have departed.
Mississippi River - White pelicans are still present by the hundreds, offfering some great viewing opportunities as they fish or when they soar above the river bluffs. Most will have migrated by late October. Muskrats have started building huts to prepare for winter. Their huts not only serve as protection from the cold, they are also an emergency food supply when muskrats cannot reach their food piles or other sources of nourishment.
Crawford County - The Mississippi River was at 7.7 feet Oct. 1, but was expected to rise after recent rain. The Wisconsin and Kickapoo rivers were also on the rise. Navigating the river systems is dangerous because there still is a lot of debris floating downstream. In addition to that a substantial amount of vegetation because uprooted and is drifting downstream. Many boat landings on the Mississippi River are full of weeds. Fishing action was pretty good this week. Bluegill and crappie action was good in many of the downed trees in the back water sloughs. Anglers were finding crappie and bluegills in the Ambro Slough complex and in the Lower Bottoms just south of Prairie du Chien. Walleye and bass action was also good. Most were finding bass scattered all over the place. Walleye were being located in deeper sloughs in the back waters. Wing dam action was slow; however, the Main Channel of the Mississippi River near the Harpers Ferry slough has produced fish. The opening of the duck season saw decent water levels but warm conditions. There was some pretty good action for some hunters. The lower Wisconsin River bottoms are full of acorns and water. Duck activity there was spotty, however, as the birds were spread out all over the place. Some hunters found good wood duck and teal activity and took a limit home. Others were in good looking areas but the birds were not using those spots. Duck hunting on the Mississippi River was pretty good also. Most hunters reported a fair amount of birds. Of course other hunters did not fair as well. The Prairie du Chien area saw fair to good action with wood ducks, teal and mallards. Up near Lynxville and Ferryville, hunters found wood ducks, teal, gadwall and some mallards. Archery deer hunters were finding the mosquitoes tough to deal with. So far this year a couple real nice bucks have been killed. The deer population looks pretty strong this year. Squirrel hunters were having pretty good success even though there is still pretty good leaf cover. Poison ivy and stinging nettle is still present in many areas. The river bottoms are still full of nettle and poison ivy. Mosquitoes are out in force especially in the river bottoms. This is the time of the year where hornets, box elder beetles and Asian beetles begin to be a real pest. Many trees are starting to turn color. Many of the black walnut tress have dropped their leaves. Many maples are starting to turn color.
Buffalo River State Trail - The trail is open to hikers, ATVs bicycles and horses. Stay alert and use caution when crossing roads or meeting other users on the trail. Small game hunting is allowed on the trail. Hunters are reminded to watch for and show due respect for moving trail users. Please respect adjacent private landowners' rights.
Great River State Trail - The trail has dried out considerably since heavy rains a few weeks ago. There are a few spots that still have a light coating of sand over the trail due to washing, but they are safe to ride through. If there is additional rain, soft spots or puddles may occur, so watch the trail surface carefully as you ride. Please report any concerns to staff at (608) 534-6409.
Merrick State Park - Crappies and bluegills have been biting, especially along the wing dams. The river level remains normal. A few maple trees are beginning to turn color. All hiking trails are in great condition. The flush toilet/shower building and water fountains will be closed on Oct. 15. Duck season opened Sept. 29. Some areas adjacent to the park are open for hunting so campers may hear gun shots.
Perrot State Park- Trails are in good shape for hiking. The flush toilet and shower buildings will be closed for the season on Oct. 15. Fishing is beginning to pick up. Canoes and kayaks are for rent at the Headquarters. There are very few trees that have begin to change colors. Duck season opened Saturday, Sept. 29. Some areas adjacent to the park are open for hunting so campers may hear gun shots.
Eau Claire DNR Service Center area
Brunet Island State Park - Fall colors appear to be between 50 and 75 percent in this area. The maples and ash have all begun to turn; the oaks are still mostly green. The open water game fish action has been good. Bass action on leeches and small minnows has been productive; walleye action has been good with live baits. Crappies have been very active. Species of birds seen or heard include: great blue herons, ravens, rose-breasted grosbeaks, loons, a variety of wrens, phoebes, turkey vultures, northern juncos, piliated woodpeckers, great horned and barred owls, osprey, bald eagles, Canada geese and belted kingfishers. The hummingbird migration appears to be over in this area. Wintergreen, common mullein, white snakeroot, the pale and spotted jewelweed, rabbits foot clover, and some of the aster varieties are flowering. The park will be undertaking a major road renovation project through mid-October. Existing pavement on nearly all park roads and parking areas will be ground up and new pavement will be placed over it. The main park road will be widened slightly to accommodate a bicycle/pedestrian lane. All work will be done during daytime Mondays through Fridays.
Wisconsin Rapids DNR Service Center area
Buckhorn State Park - The park is open for early and late bow seasons. New hunting maps are available at the park office and on the park website for parkland, Buckhorn wildlife area (formerly area A), and yellow river wildlife area (formerly area B). The yellow river wildlife area (area B) is open to everything in the regulations. Buckhorn wildlife (area A) is open for small game, waterfowl, trapping, and deer bow hunting. Deer can be registered at the park office when it is staffed. Canoes and kayaks are still available for renting. There are a few mosquitoes still. The trees are starting to change along Highway 58. The statewide youth deer hunt on Oct. 6-7 is allowed in the Yellow River Wildlife Area (formerly area B) ONLY. All other hunters except waterfowl must wear blaze orange. Bow hunters in the park must wear blaze orange on Oct 6-7. The 2008 photo contest starts Oct. 1.
VHS fish disease update as of Oct. 4, 2007
The state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has lifted the quarantines it had placed on three DNR fish hatcheries since late May, following DNR’s discovery in a review of its hatchery operations that three facilities had received eggs or fish from the Lake Winnebago system, where fish have been detected with VHS. Lifting the quarantine orders means that the three facilities – the old Wild Rose hatchery, the Kettle Moraine Springs hatchery and the Lake Mills hatchery -- will no longer be required to get the agriculture department’s permission before stocking fish. Under DNR’s comprehensive plan to avoid spreading the disease, DNR hatcheries will continue to do testing and provide paperwork showing a clean bill of health for fish before they are stocked out from one of the state’s hatcheries.
Testing
The state’s egg collection efforts for Lake Michigan trout and salmon are now underway at weirs along tributary waters and are incorporating additional steps to prevent the spread of viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS. [link to
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/news/DNRNews_Lookup.asp?id=87#art2]
The measures, including bathing the fertilized eggs in iodine at the weir to kill the virus, are just part of the comprehensive plan DNR’s propagation system staff and managers are now finalizing to assure hatchery and stocking operations do not accidentally spread VHS.
Sue Marcquenski, DNR’s fish health specialist, said the new processes went well, and reported in an e-mail on a day she spent at the Strawberry Creek weir near Sturgeon Bay, collecting fish ovarian fluids and kidney spleens for testing for VHS:
“I just want to take a minute to say that everyone who worked together to develop the thiamine water hardening and iodine egg disinfection procedures for Strawberry Creek deserve a huge pat on the back, if not a million dollar cash bonus. I was very impressed with the thought that went into the design of where to locate the areas for each task, the biosecurity "firewalls" that were put in place, and the overhead cover that made it possible to continue an effective process while working in the rain. I do not think it is possible to do a better job than this.
“We did see some new clinical signs of disease in the Chinook that may be caused by VHS. And thus we already have the test of our disinfection labors under way. We may have preliminary lab results within 10 days if VHS is detected in the fish with the clinical signs.
“Ovarian fluids from 120 females and kidney spleen samples from 31 females and 26 males were collected for virology testing on October 1. I plan to continue weekly testing throughout the spawning runs for chinook, coho and seeforellen. We will also try to obtain ovarian fluid samples from chinook at the Kewaunee weir and the Root River weir at least once.”
UPCOMING EVENTS AT STATE PARKS, FORESTS, AND TRAILS
WATCHABLE WILDLIFE OPPORTUNITIES AND INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS
Check with the park or forest of your choice for additional activities and special events not listed. Most events are free of charge; park admission sticker required unless otherwise noted. Events and times subject to change.
Friday, October 5, 2007
• Kettle Moraine State Forest—Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 or e-mail - Nature Storytime: Leaves of Many Colors. Join us as we wander the autumn woods to find as many different colored leaves as we can. We will also solve the mystery of why trees drop their leaves in fall. This hour of nature fun awaits 3- to 6-year-olds with accompanying adults. Ice Age Visitor Center. 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
• Governor Thompson State Park, Crivitz, (715) 757-3979 or e-mail - Fall Color Hike and Geocache Hunt. Explore and enjoy the fall colors at the park or bring your global positioning system (GPS) and see if you can find our special event geocaches. Refreshments provided by the Friends of Governor Thompson State Park. Vehicle admission required. Park office, N10008 Paust Lane. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Havenwoods State Forest, Milwaukee, (414) 527-0232 - Family Program: Canada Geese. Now is the time to see the familiar V-shape of Canada geese in flight. We’ll find out about their habitats and try a few goose calls along the way, too! Environmental Awareness Center. 10:30 a.m. - noon. No admission sticker required.
• Kettle Moraine State Forest—Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 or e-mail - Exploring Nature: Autumn Magic. Autumn is a magical time of year as the leaves turn colors. We will traverse the woodland trees, discovering the tricks of nature and gathering leaves and nuts for a variety of special projects. This program is best for families/groups with children between the ages of 5 and 12 years. Ice Age Visitor Center. 9:30-11 a.m.
• Kohler-Andrae State Park, Sheboygan, (920) 451-4080 - Voyagers 1 and 2. Join Kevin Koski, NASA Solar System Ambassador, to celebrate 30th anniversary of Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. The Voyagers were the first spacecraft to take pictures of the outer planets of the solar system, to find the first volcanic moon (a moon of Jupiter), to fly by Saturn and discover the spooks of Saturns rings, and to see white clouds (storms on Neptune) in our solar system. Sanderling Nature Center. 2 p.m.
• MacKenzie Environmental Education Center, Poynette, (608) 635-8110 - Hootenanny. Bring your voices and/or acoustic instruments for an evening of music and family fun. We’ll singnature songs, Wisconsin and American folk songs, and whatever you want to add. Music and lyrics will be provided for some of the songs. Friends of MacKenzie will pick the winner of the handmade "MacKenzie Rose" quilt raffle. Smokey Bear will visit throughout the evening. Free refreshments, including s’mores melted on the hearth, hot chocolate, coffee, and cider. Resident Center Lodge. 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• New Glarus Woods State Park, New Glarus, (608) 527-2335 - Havenridge Hustle. This walking/hiking event will be a fundraiser for the Friends of New Glarus Woods State Park [exit DNR]. Sponsored by Monroe Clinic, (Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes).
• Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek, (920) 868-3258 - Spooktacular Hike. Nicolet Bay. 5-7 p.m.
• Rib Mountain State Park, Wausau, Granite Peak Ski Area [exit DNR], (715) 845-2846 - Chair Lift Rides. Ride up Rib Mountain, down, or both ways for unique views of the fall color.
• Richard Bong State Recreation Area, Kansasville, (262) 878-5600 - Crepuscular Stroll. It's a strange word but a great time of day to hike. Join us as day turns to night to explore which animals are out and about. Amphitheater. 7-8 p.m.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
• Kohler-Andrae State Park, Sheboygan, (920) 451-4080 - Fall Open House. Come to Kohler-Andrae for a fun filled day of events - a fall hike, children's games, entertainment and a visit from Smokey Bear as well. Don't miss the opportunity to spend a day at the park while enjoying all of these events. No admission sticker required today. Stop at park office for information on location of events. Nature Center open 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
• Havenwoods State Forest, Milwaukee, (414) 527-0232 - Pumpkins are Golden Treasures. Environmental Awareness Center. 9:30-10:30 a.m. No admission sticker required.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
• Richard Bong State Recreation Area, Kansasville, (262) 878-5600 - Knee-High Naturalist. Bring your 4-5 year old to this fun and involving nature program. A new topic each month. Dress to go outside. Please call to pre-register, as space is limited. Visitor Center. 10-11:30 a.m.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
• Kettle Moraine State Forest—Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 or e-mail - An Evening With Nature: Wiscon-sing--the History of Wisconsin Through Song. In this multimedia program, David HB Drake presents Wisconsin's vibrant history with music and theatrics enhanced with over 100 historic and scenic images. Through song, the audience will learn about Naive Americans, European immigration, lumberjacks, Great Lake sailors, and farmers. To give the music an authentic flavor, Drake plays many handmade and historic instruments. This program is most appropriate for adults and youth over 12 years old. Sponsored by Wisconsin Humanities Council. Ice Age Visitor Center. 7-8:30 p.m.
Wisconsin DNR Outdoor Report
Edited by Paul Holtan
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
PO Box 7921
Madison WI 53707-7921
(608) 267-7517
Fax: (608) 264-6293
E-mail: paul.holtan@dnr.state.wi.us
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/news/or/
