Wisconsin’s inland game fishing season opens this Saturday, May 5, with fisheries biologists saying prospects for the season opener are excellent, but with state forestry officials cautioning that wildfire danger levels are extremely high in parts of the state and asking anglers and others in the outdoors to be extremely careful with any possible sources of ignition.
Emergency forest fire regulations are in effect in seven northern counties and they could be extended to additional areas before the weekend. Under the emergency rules, it is illegal to even have a campfire unless it is in a designated private or public campground and in a metal fire ring. No campfires are allowed in remote or wilderness campsites. Additionally, cigarette, cigar or pipe smoking cannot be done outdoors and no all terrain vehicles are allowed on state owned lands or trails in the affected counties. All burning permits for these counties have been suspended, including the use of burn barrels.
The unseasonably warm weather has really spurred on fish activity and should make for a great fishing opener, with the potential for some great post spawn walleye action on waters across the Northwoods. Surface water temperatures are near 60 degrees and this has pulled many fish into the shallows. Panfish have really been on the move and good numbers are now staging along and in the warmer shallow bays. Largemouth and smallmouth bass have also made the move up shallow and many have taken up residence near any woody or rocky cover. Bass season opens this weekend in the northern zone, but is catch and release only until June 16. The northern musky zone does not open until May 26. Fishing in the southern lakes also continued to improve. Crappie fishing has been very good on Lake Wisconsin, and excellent catches of nice bluegills have been reported on many southern inland lakes.
White bass are beginning to run in the Wolf and Fox rivers. Crappies were being hooked in the channels of the Wolf River. Walleye fishing has been consistent on Lake Winnebago. Walleye fishing in the Fox River and Lake Butte des Morts has been good. Inland trout streams are in good condition. Early season trout anglers were successful in catching newly stocked and holdover trout.
Along Lake Michigan, brown trout anglers had another excellent week fishing the more northern harbors and ports, both from piers and trolling, with some nice 5 to 7 pound fish reported.
There has been a lot of bear activity reported in northern Wisconsin with sightings of sow bears with cubs, so help avoid bear nuisance problems by removing any food sources such as bird feeders, garbage cans and pet food left outdoors. Fox pups are emerging from dens. The first litters of rabbits and squirrels have also been seen, so it is important to keep dogs and cats confined. Remember many animals will leave their young for long periods of time. These babies are not abandoned…leave them where they are so their parents can find them later. No one takes care of them better than their parents. May 11 is National Keep Your Cat Indoors Day. Many birds are starting to nest now, as well.
The first Canada goose broods have hatched. Early mallard nests will not be far behind. House wrens, upland sandpipers, savanna sparrows, and rose-breasted grosbeaks are some songbird arrivals. Now is the time to put out hummingbird feeders so they are in place when the birds arrive. Springtime courtship flights of the American Woodcock have started and snipe have been winnowing the other evening. Little brown bats have also been returning to set up their colonies.
Eastern black swallowtail butterflies and female green darner dragonflies have been seen. The warmer weather has also brought out black flies and wood ticks, so be prepared to hit the lakes and streams with bug repellant this weekend. Hepatica, wood anemone, wild ginger, spring beauty, trillium, Dutchman’s breeches, bloodroot, and trout lily are blooming and wild cherry trees are in blossom.
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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 Conditions as of May 3, 2007
With the open fishing weekend just ahead, anglers are urged to be extra cautious with any kind of fire this time of the year. If you are building a campfire, cooking fire, or warming fire, make sure the area 10 feet around the fire ring is completely free of any burnable material (e.g. leaves, grass, blankets, tents, etc). Don’t have a fire on windy days. Always make sure campfires, cooking fires, warming fires, and smokes are DEAD OUT before you leave the area. Never leave any fire unattended. Remember, if you start a wildfire, you can be held responsible for the cost of suppression, injuries, and damages. Check this site for current statewide fire danger and updated statewide fire occurrences and acres burned: [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/forestry/Fire/Fire_Danger/WDNR-Fire_Report.asp]. Firewise Tip: Create firebreaks around buildings. Driveways, brick pavers, green lawns, rock mulches, and other breaks in flammable materials can halt the spread of a wildfire.
Northern Region Wildfire Report
The fire danger is currently Very High across the Northern Region. Beginning Thursday, May 3, Emergency Burning Restrictions are in effect for Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Sawyer and Washburn Counties. Click here for more information regarding current burning restrictions related to outdoor burning, campfires, charcoal grills, smoking, fireworks, and off-road vehicle use: [http://dnr.wi.gov/forestry/fire/]. All burning permits have been or will be canceled in the Northern Region by this coming weekend. Dry weather, high winds and low humidity kept fire crews busy this week. In parts of the region where DNR is responsible for wildfire suppression, 79 fires burned 972 acres with 104 structures saved and 4 structures receiving damage this week. An 82-acre fire burned in Lincoln County, in Council Grounds State Park, this week. The fire was a result of a tree falling on a power line. The park is back to normal operations and camping is open. Another power line caused fire in Iron County burned 80 acres. A fire in Sawyer County that was spotted by fire towers burned 53 acres and is under investigation. Two single engine air tankers were brought in to drop water on the fire and proved effective. Approximately 50 homes were evacuated with 25 structures threatened. All homes were saved thanks to the efforts of local fire departments. Another fire in Douglas County burned an estimated 650 acres and was started by a train along railroad tracks. Over 30 arson fires occurred in Oneida County over the weekend. Two suspects have been arrested and are expected to be charged within the next few days. A total of 11 prescribed burns on 2,796 acres were completed this week. The region also provided mutual aid to the US Forest Service in Bayfield County on a fire near Cable that burned 1,167 acres and forced evacuations. One structure was lost in the fire.
South Central Region Wildfire Report
Fire danger is High in the region and burning permits are required. Two fires burned 1.9 acres this week. One structure was threatened by a wildfire in Columbia County. This week 43 prescribed fires were completed on 2,037 acres. Fire control staff and equipment from Poynette, Richland Center, and Spring Green headed to the Northern Region this week to support fire control staff there in anticipation of challenging fire activity.
West Central Region Wildfire Report
Fire danger is currently listed as Moderate but is likely to go up later this week with drier air mass forecasted for the weekend. Burning restrictions have been lifted for DNR fire protection areas in the West Central Region as of May 1. Burning permits are now required and burning is only allowed from 6 p.m. until midnight. Burning is not allowed on Sundays and holidays. Weather conditions prompted a Red Flag Warning once again this past week for parts of west central Wisconsin but some much needed rain finally came. In the West Central Region there were 17 fires reported that burned a total of 17 acres. Prescribed burning was put on hold by Area Forestry Leaders because of the fire danger.
Northeast Region Wildfire Report
The current fire danger is High across the region. With weather conditions holding to be a warm dry weekend, anticipate the fire danger being raised to extreme and burn permits being cancelled. Although campfires will be still allowed, they must not be left unattended. Wildfires burn more than trees! In parts of the region where DNR has wildfire suppression responsibilities, there were a total of 17 fires with just over 17 acres burned. Several fires were caused by down trees on power lines due to the high winds. The cause of one fire was determined to be from a train on the nearby railroad tracks, the rest of the fires were debris fires. No structures were lost and there were no injuries this week. 3 prescribed burns took place last week with 60 acres burned.
DNR Northern Region
Superior DNR Service Center area
Brule River State Forest - Fire occurrence and acreages have been steadily increasing due to the weather conditions and the prolonged drought. Forest fires during this spring season are increasingly difficult to extinguish. As of May 3, emergency burning restrictions are in place for Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, Iron, Washburn and Sawyer counties until further notice. All outdoor burning of debris is prohibited as is building campfires in any manner except in developed camping areas. There are also restrictions on charcoal grills, smoking, welding/torching, and fireworks. For any questions on these restrictions call your local ranger station. With spring comes the baby animals. It is a good time to remind people that many animals will leave their young for long periods of time. These babies are not abandoned…leave them where they are so their parents can find them later. No one takes care of them better than their parents. Many well meaning people will bring these animals home only to have these animals die of stress, sickness, or improper nutrition. Deer should be giving birth to their fawns in a couple weeks. There are always some that come early though. Many people get worried that fawns are starving while waiting for the doe to return and will then feed the fawn from a bottle. This can be very dangerous to fawns. Cow milk can upset the digestive system of a fawn, sometimes causing diarrhea which can dehydrate the fawn to the point that they can't be saved.
Park Falls DNR Service Center area
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - The unseasonably warm weather has really spurred on fish activity and should make for a great fishing opener on waters across the Northwoods. Walleye and northern pike are well past their spawning periods, with perch and musky now finishing up on most lakes. Surface water temperatures are near 60 degrees and this has pulled many fish into the shallows. Walleye seem to have recovered from the stress of spawning and many have been showing up along the shallow break lines and near emerging weeds on the mud flats. Panfish have really been on the move and good numbers are now staging along and in the warmer shallow bays. Largemouth and smallmouth bass have also made the move up shallow and many have taken up residence near any woody or rocky cover. With continued warm temperatures, look for largemouth bass and crappie to start their spawning rituals in the next week or so, with smallmouth bass and bluegill not far behind.
Woodruff DNR Service Center area
Opening weekend of fishing season begins on May 5 and will bring with it the potential for some great post spawn walleye action. Early warm temperatures in April sparked an early fish run. Although some of the far northern lakes still have some spawning activity, most other lakes are currently completed. With this in mind, anglers opening weekend should concentrate efforts in areas that typically hold post spawn fish. The predicted warm weather through the weekend should prove to activate fish. Crappies should start moving in with the warm weather as well. The northern zone bass season opens this weekend, but is catch and release only until June 16. Musky does not open in the northern zone until May 26. A reminder to anglers to make sure that they have current fishing licenses and that the license is with them when out on the water. Free Fishing Weekend will be Saturday and Sunday, June 2 and 3. Although fishing licenses are not required during those two days, all other fishing regulations still apply. Also, please remember that boaters must have the appropriate and correct number of personal flotation devices in their boat. Boater safety courses are currently being given and/or scheduled to begin. A Boating Safety Internet course is available on line. Bear are reported to be out and about and moving in to visit bird feeders and garbage cans. We remind homeowners to secure their garbage cans and to remember that bear consider birdseed to be quite a delicacy. Bringing in the bird feeders at night can eliminate a lot of work caused by bears coming in for an easy meal.
DNR Northeastern Region
Peshtigo DNR Service Center area
Marinette County - The Menominee River was slow over the weekend although boaters were catching walleye in the 17 to 20 inch range. Best bets for bait were jigs and crankbaits. The lack of water depth at the Little River boat ramp presents launching problems for all but the smaller boats. The warmer weather has brought out the black flies and wood ticks, so be prepared to hit the lakes and streams with bug repellant this weekend. The weather forecast looks great for the opener. Inland trout streams are in good condition. No rain is predicted till Sunday evening. Conditions are remaining warm and dry. Hepatica and bloodroot are blooming in the southern part of the county, while wild cherry are in bloom in the northern part.
Oconto County - Anglers have been successful with catching perch although they should be reminded that perch season is closed until May 20. Walleye and northern pike were being caught in good numbers. The preferred bait is zip lures and cranks. Inland trout waters are in great shape such as the South Branch of the Oconto River. Turkey hunters have had good success with toms beginning to get harder to call in.
Shawano County - The warm weather has accelerated the blooming of the wildflowers--wood anemone, wild ginger, spring beauty, trillium, Dutchman’s breeches, hepatica, trout lily are all blooming. Wood ticks are numerous also. Turkey hunters are having good success. Wildlife staff are is continuing to prescribe burn the prairies as weather permits. Conditions are dry please be careful with fires.
Green Bay DNR Service Center area
Manitowoc County - In Manitowoc, brown trout anglers had an excellent week of fishing. Anglers fishing from the pier reported good catches of brown trout throughout the week using stick baits or spawn sacs to land some nice 5 to 7 pound fish. Boaters trolling in 8 to 10 feet of water off the Manitowoc shoreline also had a fantastic week for brown trout and lake trout. Most browns were between 3 to 5 pounds while the lake trout were between 6 to 8 pounds. On the Manitowoc River, smallmouth bass fishing has started to pick up at the Lower Cato Falls Park. Boaters fishing the Manitowoc River by Manitou Park caught a mixed bag of fish including northern pike, smallmouth bass, and bullheads. Rainbow trout fishing on the Branch River was slow with some smaller sized rainbows caught. In Two Rivers, trollers had a terrific week for brown trout with steady action all day. Anglers had the most action trolling in 8 to 12 feet of water with jointed stick baits and crank baits. Anglers casting from the pier had a slow weekend; however, spawn sacs seemed to produce some action for anglers. On the East Twin River, rainbow trout fishing at the Mishicot dam was good. Early in the week, some large spawning Chambers Creek rainbow trout from the 2002 year class were caught with weights ranging from 6 to 9 pounds. Rainbow trout anglers on the West Twin River had a great week. While fly fishing was slow for anglers, drifting a worm produced some nice catches of Chambers Creek and Ganaraska strain rainbows. Anglers had success throughout the weekday afternoons fishing downstream from the Shoto dam.
Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area
Door County – It was another nice week weather wise, with a combination of sunny and partly cloudy days with mild temperatures. A little rain on Thursday morning provided some needed moisture. There was little or no angling pressure on the Lake Michigan tributary streams. Decent catches of brown trout continue to come into Sister Bay and Egg Harbor. Lots of mostly small perch continue to be taken off the causeway over the north end of Kangaroo Lake, mostly on minnows fished under a slip bobber. Northern pike continue to be hitting on Sturgeon Bay. A small chinook salmon was brought into the Sturgeon Bay city ramp on Saturday.
Peninsula State Park - Water levels in Green Bay are still very low. Trails are ready for summer use, but some bike trail sections are wet or under water. As of May 1 the Tennison Bay campground is open. Selected shower/toilets buildings are operative as is the trailer dumping station. Peninsula State Park golf course is now open. Tours of the 1868 Eagle Bluff Lighthouse will resume May 19-20 for the Annual Door County Lighthouse Walk. Visit their website at [www.EagleBluffLighthouse.org]. Peninsula State Park now has a Friends group. Visit their website, [PeninsulaFriends.org] later this month.
Kewaunee County - Weather conditions over the last week have been different day to day. Cooler temperatures and rain during the week gave way to sun and warmer temperatures over the weekend. The winds have been changing almost everyday. Fishing has slowed down a little as not as many fish were being caught. Anglers fishing from shore were still catching some brown trout and even a few salmon have been caught. Those anglers that have gone out trolling were still catching some browns in the near shore areas. There didn’t seem to be a particular bait that is worked best over the last week. Most of the steelhead run has ended in the tributaries located in the county.
Wautoma DNR Service Center area
Orioles have returned to Waushara County.
Oshkosh DNR Service Center area
Upper Fox-Wolf basin fisheries report - White bass are beginning to run in the Wolf River in Winneconne. White bass were also being hooked in the Fox River off of the bridges in Oshkosh. Crappies were being hooked in the channels of the Wolf River. Walleye fishing has been consistent in Lake Winnebago, with fish ranging in size from 14 to 18 inches. Walleye anglers fishing in the Fox River and Lake Butte des Morts were doing well, too. The perch run is pretty much done with anglers only catching the smaller ones at this point. The DNR will be stocking the South Park ponds once again this year with trout to provide an "opening day" experience for kids in Oshkosh. This week, 2,600 brook and rainbow trout will be stocked into the ponds. The season opens this Saturday May 5 at 5 a.m. The daily bag limit is five (5) fish per person. The ponds are not yet officially designated at "Urban Fisheries" so the fishing is open to anyone with a valid fishing license and an inland trout stamp. Kids under the age of 16 do not need a license to fish, nor do they need a trout stamp. Although the fishing is open to anyone with a valid license and trout stamp, adults are encouraged to take their kids fishing, but let the kids do the fishing. The DNR will be expanding its urban fishing program over the next year and the ponds at South Park are prime candidates for the program which provides additional resources for enhancing the fishing in urban ponds specifically for kids. Sturgeon spawning was intense this year on the Wolf River, but was over relatively quickly due to the warm weather and rapidly rising water temperatures. Spawning took place from April 20-24.
DNR Southeast Region
Havenwoods State Forest - Eastern black swallowtail butterflies and female green darner dragonflies have been seen. Birds seen include eastern kingbird, hooded merganser, woodcock, and yellow warbler. White-tailed deer and a coyote have also been seen. Wildflowers now blooming include common blue violet, bloodroot, spring beauty, early buttercup, wood anemone, and trillium. And, unfortunately, plenty of garlic mustard is blooming.
Kohler-Andrae State Park - All nature and hiking trails are open. All campsites are open. The trailer dump station, showers, flush toilets, and water fountains are open for the season. There will be a Bird Hike on Saturday, May 5, from 8 to 10 a.m. Join Roger Tess, Audubon Society member, to discover the birds of the park. Wear comfortable shoes and bring binoculars and bird guides, if available. This hike is best suited for ages 10 through adult. No pets, please. Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day on Saturday, May 12, from 8 to 10 a.m. Join Roger Tess, Audubon Society member, to discover the birds of the park. Wear comfortable shoes and bring binoculars and bird guides, if available. This hike is best suited for ages 10 through adult.
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County - In Sheboygan, anglers fishing off the north and south pier have been catching a few browns on spoons, minnows, and spawn. The morning bite has been better than the afternoon hours. Trollers off Sheboygan have been catching browns and a few chinooks near shore in 10 to 30 feet of water. Spoons and crankbaits have been effective.
Ozaukee County - In Port Washington, shore anglers fishing the outside of the pier continue to catch some browns and even a few lake trout. Most fish have been hitting medium shiners. Shore fishing has been relatively slow near the power plant, but boaters out of Port Washington have been catching browns, lake trout, and occasional chinooks on a variety of spoons fished in 20 to 40 feet of water.
Milwaukee County - In Milwaukee, a few browns have been taken on minnows or silver spoons near the Summerfest grounds and at Jones Island. A few browns and steelhead have been caught on spawn fished off the pier in Grant Park. Boaters out of Milwaukee have been catching browns north of the harbor and around the gaps, as well as off the Oak Creek Power Plant. A few lake trout have also been caught north of the harbor in 50 to 60 feet of water.
Racine County - In Racine, brown trout fishing off the piers has been hit or miss. On good days, browns have been caught on spoons and shallow diving crankbaits. Trollers off Racine have been catching a few browns in 15 to 20 feet of water on spoons.
Kenosha County - In Kenosha fishing in the harbor has been slow. Trollers off Kenosha should start to see good numbers of coho in the next couple of weeks, but brown trout have been providing some action in the meantime.
Inland fisheries team report
About 1,600 kids took part in the 23rd annual Kid's Fishing Clinic held on Saturday April 14 at 14 park ponds and lagoons. The clinics were a big success thanks to the efforts of over 250 volunteers from 20 different local fishing clubs. Fishing was pretty good in spite of chilly temperatures. There are over 50 parks ponds designated as Urban Waters in the Southeast region. These ponds are stocked with rainbow trout and should provide good fishing for the next several weeks. It's a great way to introduce kids to the sport. For more information check page 18 of the current fishing regulations or call the Urban Fishing hotline at (414) 263-8494.
Fishing in the region continues to improve.
Washington, eastern Fond du Lac, and inland Sheboygan counties - Few fishing reports have been received lately. Early season trout anglers were successful in catching newly stocked and holdover trout on the Onion River. Some of the trout anglers commented that the newly stocked rainbow trout were on the small side. The base trout regulations for Washington, Sheboygan and Fond du Lac county trout streams is a 9-inch minimum size and three (3) daily bag limit. The Onion River and its tributaries upstream of County Highway E in Sheboygan County has a 15-inch minimum size limit, one daily bag limit and an artificial lures only regulation package. Few reports of panfish action were available over the past week. The expected good weather for the coming week should make fishing very good on opening weekend. Look for calm water areas where the sun is able to warm up the water for the best panfish action. All of the walleye and northern pike spawning action is complete. Look for walleye coming up onto shallow flats after small perch in lakes like Pike Lake near Hartford. We often see walleyes in those areas at night while doing our survey work.
Waukesha County - Recent warm weather has really turned on fishing. Excellent catches of nice bluegills have been caught on Pewaukee, Beaver, and Okauchee lakes. Best bites were coming from weed edges in 2 to 8 feet of water. Try to find the warmer pockets of water for the best biting fish. Crappie fishing has been slow but some persistent anglers have had luck on Lac Labelle, Golden and North lakes. Best bites coming from 4-11 feet of water on slip rigs tipped with fatheads.
DNR South Central Region
Horicon DNR Service Center area
Columbia/Sauk counties - Crappie action has picked up on area waters, including Lake Wisconsin at the Harmony Grove fingers and the Moon Valley fishing area, at Mirror Lake, Lake Redstone and Crystal Lake. Bluegill action was also good on Crystal Lake. Walleye and sauger action has picked up below the Prairie du Sac dam on the Wisconsin River. White bass action has been hot below both the Dells and Prairie du Sac dams on the Wisconsin River.
DNR West Central Region
Baldwin DNR Service Center area
Toads began trilling this past Sunday in Pierce County. House wrens returned to St. Croix county this past week. A late rough-legged hawk was observed in the New Richmond area May 1. Fox pups are emerging from dens.
La Crosse DNR Service Center area
The first litters of mammals like rabbits and squirrels have been born, so it is important to keep dogs and cats confined. May 11 is National Keep Your Cat Indoors Day. Many birds are starting to nest now, as well. The first Canada goose broods have hatched. Early mallard nests will not be far behind. Toads and gray tree frogs are calling. House wrens, upland sandpipers, savanna sparrows, and rose-breasted grosbeaks are some of the recent songbird arrivals. Hummingbirds, orioles, bobolinks, and many warblers will be arriving soon. Speaking of hummingbirds, now is the time to put out hummingbird feeders so they are in place when the birds arrive. Fill hummingbird feeders with a nectar mixture of four parts water to one part cane sugar, which is boiled and left to cool. Turkey hunters have been reporting below average success. Gobblers appear to be with hens and are not coming readily to hunters calls and decoys.
Black River Falls DNR Service Center area
Spring Green up of forest fuels is progressing well. The fire danger is expected to be High. Anyone using fires outdoors are urged to be cautious and be sure campfires are attended at all times and are completely out before leaving.
Eau Claire DNR Service Center area
Brunet Island State Park - Area open water panfishing action has been fast with warm temperatures or very quiet during cooler days in the sheltered bays and lagoons. With the spring bird migration underway we have been seeing or hearing several species including: rose-breasted grosbeaks, loons, robins, red polls, a variety of wrens, phoebes, Canada geese, northern juncos, pileated woodpeckers, and belted kingfishers. The great blue herons, green herons, osprey and bald eagles are on their nests. The maples have begun to leaf out. Marsh marigolds, hepaticas, bellworts, and the false rue anemones are in bloom. Trilliums are emerging from the leaf litter. The Brunet Island State Park North campground is now open with pit toilets and hand water pumps available. The South campground is open year round with electric sites, hand water pump, and pit toilets available. The campground showers and dump station will reopen in mid May. The park dump station is open and fully operational at this time.
Chippewa River State Trail - The trail is in good condition overall. There are lots migrating waterfowl in the area. Eagles can be seen along the river.
Hoffman Hills State Recreation Area - The frogs are singing. Springtime courtship flights of the American Woodcock have started too. We heard snipe winnowing the other evening. Turkeys are gobbling and grouse are drumming. Migrating waterfowl are active. Sandhill cranes can seen and heard in the area.
Red Cedar State Trail - The trail has been dragged and rolled and is in good shape. Marsh marigolds are blooming and a few Trilliums are starting pop out too. Migrating waterfowl and eagles are in the area. Osprey are passing through.
Wisconsin Rapids DNR Service Center area
Buckhorn State Park – Little brown bats have been returning to the bulletin board by the park office. There are 7 back after the weekend. People have been enjoying the nice weather fishing around the park. Brave swimmers were having fun at the beach on Sunday. A lot of ticks are out with the warmer weather - check after hiking. The boat boarding piers and fishing pier are in. Sites 1-12, 16, group camp sites (A1-A8 and B1-B3), 20-22, 23-29 are open for camping. All other sites will open weekend of May 10. Some boundaries between park and wildlife area B have changed. Spring turkey hunting: park is 15C. Wildlife Area B is area 15. Spring is a great time for taking wildlife photos for the annual photo contest. 2007 youth deer hunt applications are now available. Deadline is July 15. There are still openings for the accessible cabin. May dates are 15-18 and 30-31.
Roche-A-Cri State Park - Deer and Turkeys are easily spotted throughout the park. Many spring wildflowers are in bloom. The first loop of the campground is currently open, as well as all water access and the trailer dumping station. Enjoy a great spring hike up the stairway to the top of the Roche-A-Cri Mound. The Roche-A-Cri Woods State Natural Area, East of state highway 13, is open for spring turkey hunting as part of zone 18. The 2007 photo contest is well underway - remember your camera to catch great springtime photos for the contest. Please join us on May 19 at 1:30 p.m. at the petroglyph area for a presentation from the Wisconsin Archaeological society.
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, May 04, 2007
• Kettle Moraine State Forest—Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 - Nature Storytime: Shhhh! Listen. It's amazing what we can discover if we are quiet and listen. Join us for a listening walk through the fields and forest. 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, May 5, 2007
• Black River State Forest, Black River Falls, (715) 284-1430 - Wildflower Walk. Celebrate spring by enjoying a 1-hour walk along Perry Creek amidst a carpet of woodland wildflowers. See how many species you can find, learn about ecology and threats to their survival. Dress for hiking. There are no restrooms on-site. Perry Creek Park. 10-11 a.m.
• Havenwoods State Forest, Milwaukee, (414) 527-0232 - Family Program: Growing Up Green. Short and tall, there are all sorts of plants growing around us. We will hike around to and look at plants, find out how they grow, and discover how they are important to people and animals. Environmental Awareness Center. No admission sticker required. 10:30 a.m. - noon.
• High Cliff State Park, Sherwood, (920) 989-1106 - Morning Bird Hike Join local birding enthusiast, Terri Welisek, on a bird hike during the spring warbler migration. Anyone 7 and older is welcome on the hike which will follow the Butterfly Pond Trail. Wear dull clothing and comfortable footwear. Bring binoculars and a bird guide if you have them. Anyone interested in learning how to use binoculars should arrive 20 minutes early for a quick demo. 9 to 10 a.m.
• Kettle Moraine State Forest—Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 - Exploring Nature Program: Attacking Forest Invaders. Garlic mustard, buckthorn, and honeysuckle are few of the non-native plants invading the Kettle Moraine. Learn why these plants are unwelcome and how to control them. We will remove some honeysuckles by playing tug-of-war with them, so bring your work gloves. If you would like to make a unique exotic bandanna, please bring 50 cents. Call by May 4 to register. 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 - Spring Bird Hike. Join well-known Audubon Society member Roger Tess on a hike to search for the birds that call Kohler-Andrae their home. Please wear comfortable shoes. Bring binoculars and bird guides if available. No pets. Camp host site. 8-10 a.m.
• MacKenzie Environmental Education Center, Poynette, (608) 635-8110 - Open House. Sponsored by DNR, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, and Friends of MacKenzie Center. 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
• Richard Bong State Recreation Area, Kansasville, (262) 878-5600 - Spring Explorer Hike. Discover signs of spring as you hike the 3.8 mile Blue Trail with a naturalist. Trail may be wet. Meet at the Beach. 9 a.m. - noon.
• Sandhill Wildlife Area, Babcock, (715) 884-6333 - Orienteering—Fun with Compass and Map. Learn how to navigate in the out-of-doors with compass and map. Learn how to use detailed maps and compasses. Navigate through several compass courses, including a cross-country exercise of several miles. Register by April 25. $30 fee. Outdoor Skills Center, 20 miles west of Wisconsin Rapids on County Highway X, 1 mile north of Highway 80. 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sunday.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
• Havenwoods State Forest, Milwaukee, (414) 527-0232 - Preschool Storytime: Duck, Duck, Quack. Have you seen any baby ducks in your neighborhood? Join us to learn how web-footed waddlers grow up. Environmental Awareness Center. No admission sticker required. 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
• Black River State Forest, Black River Falls, (715) 284-1430 - Wildflower Walk. Celebrate spring by enjoying a 1-hour walk along Perry Creek amidst a carpet of woodland wildflowers. See how many species you can find, learn about ecology and threats to their survival. Please call to register. Perry Creek Park. 7-8 p.m.
• Governor Dodge State Park, Dodgeville, (608) 935-2315 - Trail-Building Class. Mike Riter, Trails Education Specialist for the state of Georgia and owner of Trail Design Specialists company, will show how to build trails that will stand up to the elements and require minimal maintenance. Classroom and hands-on field work. Sponsored by Wisconsin State Horse Council Trails Committee and the Glacial Drumlin Horse Trail Association.
• Richard Bong State Recreation Area, Kansasville, (262) 878-5600 - Knee-High Naturalist. Explore nature with a child. Bring your 4-5 year old to this fun nature program. A new topic each month! Dress to go outside. Please pre-register, space is limited. Call (262) 878-5600. Meet at the Beach in April, Visitor Center in May. 10-11:30 a.m.
Saturday, May 10, 2007
• Havenwoods State Forest, Milwaukee, (414) 527-0232 - Sustain, Reconnect, and Grow Environmental Corridors Kick-off. A southeast Wisconsin voluntary initiative to enhance and grow environmental corridors in the region from will be held at the Havenwoods State Forest and Environmental Awareness Center, 6141 N. Hopkins St., Milwaukee. Presentation on existing corridors and natural areas hosted by Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, and DNR-Southeast Region. Additional information, contact Peter McMullen at (414) 263-8751. 3 to 5 p.m.
• Kettle Moraine State Forest—Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 - An Evening With Nature: The Right Start for Native Plantings. Have you wanted to start your own prairie with native grasses and flowers, but did not know how to get started? Then join Randy Powers, owner of Prairie Future Seed Company, as he explains the nine essential concepts for successful native plantings. He will have resources available for a nominal fee. This program is most appropriate for adults and youth over 12 years old. 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/
