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/DNR Outdoor Report as of September 1, 2011
Pleasant late-summer weather has provided for good recreational conditions in the last week. With the exception of a light rainfall across most of the state earlier this week, most of the state enjoyed dry, sunny weather, which is forecast to continue through the Labor Day weekend, with the possibility of some showers late this week.
Water levels on most rivers and streams are near normal across most of the state, although after nearly two weeks with minimal rainfall, some trout streams are now running low. Northern flowages are at their normal summer levels. The Mississippi has returned to normal summer levels, and the lower Wisconsin River is slightly low, with abundant sandbars available for the holiday weekend.
Fishing activity has been good in the north, with bass and musky the highlight. Nearly all musky anglers are reporting sightings, follows and strikes. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass have also provided good action, and success on largemouth has been especially good. Walleye success has remained fair and panfish activity has been sporadic. Fishing on many southern lakes has been slow due to the recent warm weather, but should improve as water temperatures begin to drop.
On Green Bay, some very good perch fishing continues to be reported on both the west and east shores, though many of the perch have been on the small size. Some good walleye action was reported of Oconto this week, but walleye fishing was generally slower along Door County. Anglers have begun fishing the lower Fox River for musky with some success.
Lake Michigan trollers have begun working areas closer to harbors in search of older chinook salmon that are beginning to stage for fall runs, but many also continued to have success out in deeper water, with mixed bags of mostly chinook and coho salmon, along with some rainbow and lake trout reported. Pier fishing had picked up at Manitowoc and Two Rivers late last week, but slowed with a west wind bringing in cooler water over the weekend. Shore fishing at most southeastern ports has been slow.
September 1 marks the opening of the first fall hunting seasons with early Canada goose and morning dove seasons opening. The early goose season targets locally breeding giant Canada goose populations, whose population state wildlife officials say was up 12 percent this spring with more than 176,000 geese counted during spring waterfowl surveys. The early season now accounts for one-third of the total annual goose harvest in Wisconsin. Hunters scouting for the dove season reported dove numbers were also good.
Bucks are now losing velvet; a buck with polished antlers was seen this week. Nighthawks have been seen migrating in evenings across much of the state. Larger groups of monarchs are being seen along with freshly emerged black swallowtail butterflies and late season dragonflies including the common green darner. Some maples and sumacs have begun changing color.
Wild rice is beginning to ripen on many northern waters, but is a week or so behind average due to the cool weather back in late spring. Aerial surveys conducted by the DNR and the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission found wild rice beds to be only fair to poor in many locations, and officials have already closed some regulated wild rice lakes to ricing this season. Wild rice gatherers should check the wild rice page of DNR website for the latest updates.
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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.
DNR Northern Region
Spooner DNR Service Center area
Washburn County - Nighthawks were seen migrating through the area the night of Saturday Aug. 27.
Park Falls DNR Service Center area
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - Pleasant late-summer weather has provide for some good recreational conditions in the last week and fishing activity has been pretty good in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Bass and musky fishing remain the highlight in the area and action continues to be very, very good. For musky, nearly all anglers are reporting sightings, follows and strikes -- with quite a few catches also being made. Most of the musky have been in the 30- to 38-inch size but a few in the 40- to 46-inch range have also been reported. Artificial baits have provided most of the action and some of the favorite lures have been large bucktail, rubber swim baits and top-waters. The musky have been found in a variety of locations, including the less-dense weed beds, the deeper weed edges, and some even suspended in the deeper water areas. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass have also provided some very good action, and success on largemouth has been especially good in the past week. Quite a few nice fish have been found up shallow and near cover in the 2- to 6-foot depths, with soft plastics, jig/craw combinations, and rubber frogs being the more productive baits. Smallmouth have also been very active on the local flowages and larger rivers, with most of the fish being found near cover around deeper water areas. The best baits have been small plastic finesse lures and crank baits. With the cooler water temperatures of late summer, northern pike action has been good and some very good action can be had on spinner baits along the mid-depth weed edges. Walleye success has remained fair, with quite a few anglers reporting some decent catches from the mid-depth rock bars with a small jig tipped with a leech or night crawler half. Panfish activity has been sporadic. Some decent crappie and bluegill have been found suspended around deeper water cover, and some nice perch have been showing up in and near wild rice beds to feast on the rice worms and other insects. Water levels in the local lakes, rivers and streams remain near normal, as there has been just enough rain to keep levels from dropping too low. Most flowages are at their normal summer levels and the periodic rain throughout the summer has kept flushing rates up and kept algae blooms down. Water temperatures have been hovering in the mid to upper 60s. Wild rice was beginning to ripen on many area waters, but is a week or so behind average due to the cool weather back in late spring.
Antigo DNR Service Center area
Council Grounds State Park - A black bear with two cubs has been frequenting the park. Please keep all food and garbage inside of vehicles. The yellow loop trail remains close due to tornado damage. The campground will remain open until Oct. 30, and the flush toilet buildings will close Oct. 3.
DNR Northeastern Region
Peshtigo DNR Service Center area
Fishing pressure this past week was slight to moderate due in part to the weather. Water temperatures at the landings were in the mid 70's with Bay anglers reporting temps in the upper 60s.
Marinette County - Little River continues to provide excellent perch fishing around the weed beds in 8 to 10 feet of water using crawlers and minnows fished close to bottom. The Menominee River remains slow except during periods of low light (early morning, evenings). The walleye bite in the evening is best with stick baits being trolled from Stephenson Island down to the mouth. The salmon bite remains slow.
Oconto County - The panfish bite at the Stiles Dam on the Oconto River has picked up with anglers reporting nice catches of bluegill in and around the pilings. Slip bobbers and garden tackle have worked well. Crappies were being caught near the dam itself on minnows drifted in the deeper water. Pensaukee landing anglers were reporting some nice catches of walleye in 5 to 15 feet of water, trolling crawler/harness and casting small spoons and stick baits. The perch bite is going strong with lots of small fish being caught. Crappie rigs and slip bobber tipped with minnows or crawlers have been the baits of choice. Oconto Breakwater Park and Oconto Park II anglers were reporting good catches of walleye in the 16- to 22-inch categories. Trolling remains the go-to method, although some anglers were doing very well casting stick baits and spoons. Some really nice catches of perch have been reported in 18 feet of water on crappie rigs. Oconto County will allow elevated tree stands on the Oconto County Forest lands (not DNR managed properties) to remain up overnight and/or unoccupied from Sept. 1, 2011 to Jan. 1, 2012. Stands must have owner?s name and owner?s Wisconsin DNR customer ID number attached in a manner that is visible and legible to a person on the ground. All other parts of Oconto County Code of Ordinance 9.712 Hunting Scaffolds, Ground Blinds, and Cutting Lanes will be enforced. For further information, contact the Oconto County Forestry & Parks office at 920-834-6995.
Green Bay DNR Service Center area
Brown County - Fox River anglers were starting to troll for musky in the last week with some success shown. A few walleye were also being caught in the river as well. Shore anglers were finding fishing to be good in the last week, with anglers catching catfish and drum in good numbers. Also there were a few perch and crappie being caught from the Metro Landing. Walleye fishing has slowed some at Bayshore Park, with anglers struggling most days with the wind. A few walleyes were being taken off Volk?s Reef, however. Most anglers have been drifting bait rigs. Anglers have been catching the majority of walleyes on crawler harnesses. Perch fishing has been slow as well with anglers catching a few perch, but most anglers are struggling to catch a meals worth. Most of this is due to the weather conditions, making bite detection almost impossible.
Manitowoc County - Southwest winds at 10-15 mph switched straight out of the west to west/northwest at 10-15 mph through Friday creating colder water temperatures along the lakeshore. Water temperatures dropped to the lower 50s in the harbors and around the pier heads, but increased to 69 degrees by Sunday night due to north/northeast winds at 10-15 mph Saturday and Sunday. Air temperatures remained in the low to mid-70s with another week of little to no precipitation. Angler success picked up at piers through the week, but diminished with the warm water that came in over the weekend. Pier fishing picked up throughout the week thanks to the westerly winds that brought in cold water. On average in Two Rivers and Manitowoc, each pier averaged six to eight fish per day during the week. Over the weekend, the average dropped to four to six fish off each pier per day due to the warming water temperatures and strong north/northeast winds. The fish consisted mostly of chinook salmon 15-plus pounds, and an occasional brown trout less than five pounds. Green and silver champs have been the most successful this week, with a small number of trout and salmon coming on spoons. Using alewife on bottom also resulted in a small number of fish this week. Besides using green champs, no other colors have been hot. Several of the chinook have been very dark and can be seen jumping in the harbors, so don?t be afraid to move around and start trying up the rivers if fishing gets too crowded. The story is the same for boaters targeting chinook salmon this week. During the week, many boats landed two to three 4-year-old chinook either around sunrise or at dusk along with an occasional brown trout trolling the pier heads. Although boaters were landing only two to three fish, that number shrunk by Sunday night with the warm water temperatures. Boaters have been using a variety of spoons on boards up high in the water column while trolling the pier heads for chinook. But Sunday night, boats began pushing deeper, working 50-60 or in the 140-160 foot range with only a few small chinook (jacks) and a few rainbow trout under 10 pounds being landed. Dragonflies and nighthawks were seen migrating nearby Lake Michigan this week, a sign that fall is on the way. The Collins Marsh Wildlife Area flowage is at a complete draw down now as part of ongoing wetland habitat management. A lush carpet of annual plants have sprung from the exposed mud to provide food for migrating waterfowl. Wildlife Management staff will be closing the dam to re-fill the flowage this week. Then regular rain events are needed to fill flowage for fall waterfowl hunting opportunities. Hunters planning to pursue waterfowl at Collins Marsh Wildlife Area this season are encourage to scout prior to hunting to assess water levels or contact the property manager for additional information at (920) 755-4983.
Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area
Door County - Yellow perch have been the main target for most Sturgeon Bay anglers in the last week. Anglers were finding fish in 5 to 15 feet of water, with the bigger perch being caught in deeper water. Most anglers were still having to do a lot of sorting to catch a meal with most fish averaging 5 inches. Walleye fishing has been spotty inside the channel with anglers trolling at night. Smallmouth bass were being caught but anglers are having to put in time to find fish. Most are using spinner baits or jigs to catch fish. A few bass are also being caught on live bait. Limits of perch were being caught inside Little Sturgeon Bay. Most, however, have been averaging around 6 inches. Small minnows have been used to catch most of the larger perch. Anglers fishing perch have also reported catching a few bluegill as well. Musky anglers are starting to fish around Little Sturgeon, but were reporting little success. Walleye fishing has been slow due to the strong west winds this last week causing most anglers to not venture out. The few that did, however, caught some fish. Trolling crank baits have been the best tactic for walleye. Anglers fishing from the pier or shore have been catching a few perch and bluegill. The wind and the waves the last week also put a damper on a lot of the fishing activity out of Chaudoir?s Dock. Anglers have been catching good numbers of perch. Anglers have been targeting varying depths from as little as 10 feet to around 30 feet to find catchable numbers of perch. Most anglers are finding the perch on bottom with a minnow. Walleye fishing has been good with most anglers trolling for them. Crank baits or crawler harnesses have been working the best. A few walleye are also being caught by anglers jigging or drifting live bait rigs.
Wautoma DNR Service Center area
Waushara County - After nearly two weeks without rain the trout streams have gotten very low, making for more challenging fishing conditions. Duck banding efforts are about half done. Nighthawks can be seen migrating in evenings. Small flocks of Canada geese are moving about locally. Small family groups of wood ducks have been buzzing around in mornings and evenings. Bucks are now losing velvet; a buck with polished antlers was seen this week. Late season dragonflies are abundant?including the common green darner that migrates south for the winter. Some maples and sumacs have begun changing color. Late season flowers are coming into bloom (goldenrods, asters, lobelias, etc.).
Wild Rose State Fish Hatchery - On Tuesday August 30 hatchery crews harvested and stocked out the first large fingerling walleyes from Wild Rose. They were started in ponds on May 23. It was a very successful harvest with 10,267 fish stocked out into the Waupaca Chain of Lakes and Shawano Lake. All fish were given a fin clip. The exceeded the quota goal for this year of 7,000 large fingerlings.
DNR Southeast Region
Sheboygan County - Larger groups of monarch butterflies are being seen in the county. Freshly emerged black swallowtail butterflies are also being seen.
Kettle Moraine State Forest - Northern Unit - Fall is starting to make an appearance in the forest. Leaves are starting to turn on a few of the trees. Blackbirds and geese have been flocking. Goldenrod, black-eyed Susans, and other fall flowers are in full bloom. All horse, hiking, and bike trails are open. Insect activity has declined some with the cooler evenings, but mosquitoes and horse flies are still present. All campgrounds are open and available for reservations. The 800 loop of Long Lake campground will close Sept. 6, and the remainder of this campground will close on Oct. 10. The tepee at Mauthe Lake will be removed after Sept. 25. Early goose season opens on Sept. 1, and regular small game season opens Sept. 17. Hikers using the Ice Age Trail, as well as mountain bikers and equestrians, are recommended to wear bright colors during this busy fall season.
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County - In Sheboygan most trollers have been concentrating around the harbor, and they have been able to catch a few chinook and brown trout. Spoons and J-plugs have been the most productive. Fishing pressure has increased on the Sheboygan piers, but the fish have been hit-or-miss. A few brown trout and chinook have been taken on spoons, but no consistent color or pattern has worked better than another. The water temperature off the piers was about 61 degrees.
Ozaukee County - Most trollers in Port Washington have been working 200 to 400 feet of water, and chinook and rainbow trout have both been caught. Purple or green glow spoons fished 70 feet down have been the most productive, but action has been generally slow. Shore anglers have been fishing in the Port Washington harbor, but success has been spotty. Most anglers have been casting spoons, drifting spawn, or using worms off the bottom. Spawn and worms have been the most effective, and anglers have taken a few kings and rainbows. The water temperature in the harbor is around 68 degrees. Fishing off the pier has been slow, although many chinook have been spotted surfacing.
Milwaukee County - Trollers fishing off Milwaukee have been catching a mix of chinook, coho and some rainbow and lake trout. Most fish have been 75 feet down in about 200 feet of water. Spoons and flashers and flies have both taken fish. Shore fishing remains slow around most of the Milwaukee area, although a few small brown trout have been reported caught.
Racine County - In Racine decent numbers of mature chinook salmon have been caught by trollers working in 60 to 100 feet of water. Others fishing farther offshore have been catching good numbers of coho, rainbows, and immature chinook in 170 to 250 feet of water. Most fish have been 50 to 100 feet down. White, green, or blue flies have produced, as have green or blue spoons. The water in front of the Racine harbor is warm, and shore fishing has been generally slow. A few chinook, however, have been caught between dusk and sunrise.
Kenosha County - In Kenosha trollers have had success catching coho, rainbow trout, and chinook offshore in 160 to 200 feet of water. Both flashers and flies as well as spoons have taken fish. A few brown trout in the five to seven pound range have been caught in the harbor, but those have been spotty. Most browns have been taken on small white tubes jigged vertically along the wall. A few chinook have also been reported taken after dark near the end of the south pier.
DNR South Central Region
Fitchburg DNR Service Center area
Dane County - Fishing on the Madison lakes has been pretty slow, but it should pcik up shortly as the dog days of August are over. It will soon be trout spawning time and fish hatcheries are making space and setting plans to collect eggs from wild stock. Crews are finishing summer sampling of coldwater streams and smallmouth bass rivers and streams. Elderberries and wild grapes are ripening. White oaks are throwing acorns like crazy. People can collect their own stock for planting on private lands. Now is also a great time to zero in on wildflower seed sources.. Dove and early goose seasons are about to open on Sept. 1. Dove and goose populations seem to be very healthy and with a little scouting time hunters should have plenty of success. Just a reminder that hunters are to use non-toxic shot on all state owned properties whether they are hunting ducks, geese, doves or pheasants.
Janesville DNR Service Center area
Rock County - Walleyes being caught on many sections of the Rock River as well as reported bluegills and northern pike. Many geese are in the area prior to the early goose season opener. There have been reports of many doves using the DNR planted sunflower fields posted on the DNR website [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/dove/]. Water levels are still very low due to little to no rain over the last couple months and boaters should operate with care.
DNR West Central Region
Baldwin DNR Service Center area
St. Croix County
Willow River State park - In spite of some heavy rainfalls in August, the Willow River is running at normal flow and clarity. Camping is full for the Labor Day weekend. Water will be shut down for the cold weather season on Oct. 3. Showers, flush toilets, water fountains and the dump station will no longer be open or have running water from Oct. 3 until late April 2012. Vault toilets will be open in the campgrounds and day use areas. October-November campers may load water at the service building. The dump station will remain open for unloading only (no rinse water) until freeze up. Snow season camping will no longer be in the 300 campground. Winter campers will be using the 200 campground. There are some new parking areas along River Road and Nelson Farm Road. Anyone can park there with a valid admission on the vehicle but there are no trails from those parking lots as of August. The Nelson Farm lot should have trail access when the trail goes in from the bridge at the Trout Brook (purple) trail. For this year, the new parking lots will be used mostly by deer hunters from November 19th into January. Meet The Ranger. Ranger Matt Densow will be at the Nature Center for a program on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 6 p.m. to talk about his role as a ranger that does enforcement and maintenance work.
La Crosse DNR Service Center area
There are two species of chipmunks in Wisconsin. The eastern chipmunk is found statewide, and the least chipmunk lives primarily in about the northern half of the state. Eastern chipmunks have a distinctive chestnut brown rump patch that is absent in the least chipmunk. Chipmunks are currently busy harvesting and storing acorns, hickory nuts, black walnuts, and various other seeds. Chipmunks have fur-lined internal cheek pouches for carrying nuts and seeds which they cache in their underground burrows for use at a later time. Instead of relying upon stored body fat to sustain them during periods of hibernation, chipmunks awaken about every two weeks throughout the winter and early spring to feed on their cache of nuts, seeds, including bird seed from bird feeders, fruits, mushrooms, and sometimes green vegetation and insects. The fur lining in a chipmunk's cheek pouches prevents saliva from contacting food being carried in the pouches. Contact with saliva enzymes could cause stored food to spoil before consumption. Both chipmunk's genus name is Latin for "storer," an appropriate name since they store vast quantities of food. One hungry least chipmunk was know to have cached close to 500 acorns and 2,700 cherry pits.
Great River State Trail - The trail and bridges are in good condition. Sumacs and Virginia creeper are turning red, while thistles, goldenrods and flowering spurge add purple, yellow and white. Bugs are much more manageable than they were earlier this summer.
Perrot State Park - Prairies are in full glory. The bay has been stunning, with trees and vines changing colors, eagles fly over every day and summer is coming to a close. Paddling is a bit of a challenge, thanks to the shifting sands that the flood waters brought all summer, but the experience is still a MUST-DO! Lotus, water lily, cardinal flower, arrowhead and wild rice are blooming along the canoe. Also blooming in the park are coneflowers, sunflowers, gerardia, rough blazing star, goldenrods, boneset, mountain mint, snakeroot, flowering spurge, harebells, eyelash grass, Indian grass, and big and little bluestems. Bugs are bearable although bug spray is still a good idea. Hickory nuts, walnuts and acorns are falling. Lots of yellow and reds are appearing in trees, sumacs and Virginia creeper. Leaves are falling all over the park and blowing along the roads and crunching underfoot on the trails. Birds are moving through and staging in the bay. Lots of bald eagles are being sighted over Trempealeau Mountain and the bay. This will be the last weekend of scheduled naturalist programs at the park.
Merrick State Park - The Mississippi River is back to normal water levels. There is no designated swimming area at the park. Fishing has been excellent the past week. All trails are open and in good condition. The following flowers have been seen around the park: brown eyed susan, iron flower, primrose, horse mint, flowering spurge, cardinal flower, stiff ragweed, Jerusalem artichoke and partridge pea.
Black River Falls DNR Service Center area
Black River State Forest - All ATV trails are open and in good condition for riding. The northern section of the trails were groomed three weeks ago. The southern area of the trails near Millston was groomed last week. Trails should be in fair to good condition for riding. Construction of the Castle Mound campground contact station has been delayed. Castle Mound campground will remain open through the weekend of October 30 with the possible addition of one or two weeks. Once construction starts, Castle Mound will close and will not reopen until next May.
Wisconsin Rapids DNR Service Center area
Adams County - The algae bloom on Castle Rock and Petenwell lakes is not nearly as bad as in years past. Walleye fishing has picked up considerably and the catfish are still biting very well in both and in the river stretches.
Buckhorn State Park - Visitors have been enjoying swimming at the beach. There has been some blue green algae forming around the lake that floats around and could be near the shore of the park or campsites at times. Use clean water to wash up if you have contact with this algae and do not let pets swim in it. The swimming beach and shore by campsites have been great so far. There are two beaches, so if there is algae at one, the other may be clear that day. There are not too many bugs - excellent weather for outdoor activities! The park office loans out small tackle boxes and fishing poles. There is still time to take photos for the annual photo contest. The deadline is Sept 30.
Roche-A-Cri State Park - Work on the removal and reconstruction of the stairway up the bluff will start soon. The stairway will remain closed during the construction.
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, September 2, 2011
Hartman Creek State Park, Waupaca, (715) 258-2372 or e-mail - Canoe Hike. Bring your canoe or kayak and join Naturalist Nikita at the Knight Lane boat landing. Sigh-up by Noon on Friday, September 2. You may sign-up in person or by phone (715) 258-2372. Boaters 16 and under need an accompanying adult. 6:30 p.m. arrive early to unload boats.
Interstate State Park, St. Croix Falls, (715) 483-3747 - If the River Could Talk. Hear some of the fascinating history of the St. Croix River Valley. 3 p.m. at the Summit Rock Trail sign.
Kettle Moraine State Forest--Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 or e-mail - Ladybugs Everywhere Nature Storytime. Ice Age Visitor Center 9:30-10:30 a.m. Journey into Darkness Night Hike. Mauthe Lake Recreation Area. 8-9:45 p.m.
Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek, (920) 854-5976 or e-mail - Hemlock Trail. 10 ? 11 a.m. Meet at Weborg Shelter.
Potawatomi State Park, Sturgeon Bay, (920) 746-2890 or e-mail - Buggy Movie. Amphitheater. 8 p.m.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Buckhorn State Park, Necedah, (608) 565-2789 or e-mail - Buzz on Bees. Amphitheater. 7 p.m.
Governor Dodge State Park, Dodgeville, (608) 935-2315 or e-mail - Universe in the Park. Evening.
Harrington Beach State Park, Belgium, (262) 285-3015 or e-mail - The Music of John Higgins. Puckett's Pond. 7 p.m.
Havenwoods State Forest, Milwaukee, (414) 527-0232 or e-mail - Bug Hunt for Families. 10:30-11:30 a.m.
High Cliff State Park, Sherwood, (920) 989-1106 or e-mail - Get Outdoors! Family Play Day. Noon ? 3 p.m.
Interstate State Park, St. Croix Falls, (715) 483-3747 - Hike to Horizon Rock.. 1:30 p.m. at the Horizon Rock Trail sign near the Ice Age Center. The Owl and the Mouse. Meet Aztec, a live owl, and play a game that illustrates the exceptional hearing of some nocturnal animals 4 p.m. at the grassy area in the center of the North Campground. A Billion Years on the Pothole Trail. 7 p.m. at the Pothole Trail sign.
Kettle Moraine State Forest--Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 or e-mail - Saturday Morning Nature Sleuths. Mauthe Lake Picnic Shelter and Long Lake Picnic Shelter. 10-11 a.m. Meet the Ranger. Mauthe Lake Beach. 2-3 p.m. Get Outdoors! Family Play Day. Mauthe Lake Recreation Area Beach. 1-4 p.m. Deep Night Sky Objects Evening Event. Ice Age Visitor Center. 7:30-8:30 p.m. Summer Star Gazing Evening Event.. Ice Age Visitor Center. 8:45-10:45 p.m.
Kohler-Andrae State Park, Sheboygan, (920) 451-4080 or e-mail - History of Kohler-Andrae. Sanderling Nature Center. 7 p.m. Family Play Day Event - The Sands of Kohler-Andrae. On the beach near the bathhouse. 2-3 p.m.
Lake Kegonsa State Park, Stoughton, (608) 873-9695 or e-mail - Falconry: An Extreme Form of Bird Watching.. Beach. 5:30 p.m.
Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek, (920) 854-5976 or e-mail - Rachel Carson Trail. Labor Day Weekend - Saturday through Monday. Nature Center. On your own. Quotes from the author of Silent Spring posted along the 0.5-mile White Cedar Nature Trail.
Potawatomi State Park, Sturgeon Bay, (920) 746-2890 or e-mail - Toadology. Nature center. 7 - 7:45 p.m.
Richard Bong State Recreation Area, Kansasville, (262) 878-5600 - Nature Art. Amphitheater. 9:30 ? 11 a.m. Old-Fashioned Campfire. Amphitheater. 7-8 p.m.
Roche-A-Cri State Park, Adams-Friendship, (608) 565-2789 or e-mail - Buzz on Bees. Mound shelter. 2 p.m.
Willow River State Park, Hudson, (715) 386-5931 or e-mail - Meet the Ranger. Nature Center 6 p.m.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Buckhorn State Park, Necedah, (608) 565-2789 or e-mail - Smokey Visits the Park.. Amphitheater. 4-5 p.m. Nature Playground and Crafts. Amphitheater. 4-8 p.m.
Devil's Lake State Park, Baraboo, (608) 356-8301 - Big Band Concert. $5 per person. Dances go from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. with music by the Hal Edwards Orchestra.
Hartman Creek State Park, Waupaca, (715) 258-2372 or e-mail - Odonata: Damsels and Dragons in Fields and Streams. Beach parking lot. 10 a.m.
High Cliff State Park, Sherwood, (920) 989-1106 or e-mail - Native American Hike. Trailhead of the Indian Mound parking lot. 9-10 a.m. General Store and Museum Tour. 2-3 p.m.
Interstate State Park, St. Croix Falls, (715) 483-3747 - Catch and Tag a Monarch Butterfly! The fee is $3 for Friends of Interstate Park and $5 for non-members. For registration and information call (715) 483-3747. 1-3 p.m. starting at the Ice Age Center. Family Fun: Snakes! 4 p.m. at the Ice Age Center. Hiking the Ice Age Trail. 7 p.m. at the Pothole Trail sign.
Kettle Moraine State Forest--Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 or e-mail - Get Outdoors! Family Play Day. Long Lake Recreation Area South Beach. Noon- 3 p.m. Universe in the Park. Evening.
Kohler-Andrae State Park, Sheboygan, (920) 451-4080 or e-mail - Great Lakes Search and Rescue. Sanderling Nature Center. 1:30 p.m.
Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek, (920) 854-5976 or e-mail - Stargazing 101. 8 - 9 p.m. Nicolet Beach.
Potawatomi State Park, Sturgeon Bay, (920) 746-2890 or e-mail - Eco Art Day. Nature center. 10 a.m. - Noon.
Richard Bong State Recreation Area, Kansasville, (262) 878-5600 - Scales and Slime. Visitor Center but be prepared to drive. 9:30 ? 11 a.m. Bird Crafts. Drop in between 6pm and 7:30pm to create fun art Visitor Center.
Roche-A-Cri State Park, Adams-Friendship, (608) 565-2789 or e-mail - Smokey Visits the Park. Mound shelter. 10-11 a.m. Nature Playground and Crafts. Mound shelter 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Interstate State Park, St. Croix Falls, (715) 483-3747 - The Secrets of Eagle Peak. 10 a.m. at the Eagle Peak Trail sign in the Pines Group Camp. Turtles Are Terrific! 1:30 p.m. behind the Beach House at Lake O? the Dalles.
Richard Bong State Recreation Area, Kansasville, (262) 878-5600 - Meet the Ranger. Beach Playground. 1-1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Havenwoods State Forest, Milwaukee, (414) 527-0232 or e-mail - Preschool Storytime: In Search of Dragonflies. 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek, (920) 854-5976 or e-mail - Scavenger Hunt. Stop by the Nature Center any time to try the Scavenger Hunt. Find all the items, win a prize. Shore Walk at Weborg Point. 10 ? 11 a.m. Meet at Weborg Shelter.
Richard Bong State Recreation Area, Kansasville, (262) 878-5600 - Adopt-a-Highway. Join us to clean up of the highway in front of the park. Visitor Center. 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Kettle Moraine State Forest--Northern Unit, Campbellsport, (920) 533-8322 or e-mail - An Evening With Nature: Birds of Prey. Ice Age Visitor Center. 7-8:30 p.m.
Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek, (920) 854-5976 or e-mail - CCC in Wisconsin State Parks. Nature Center. On request. Enjoy a 15-minute video about a Depression-era work group that left an indelible mark on Peninsula.
