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 October 27, 2011
Reports from across Wisconsin this week indicated that white-tail deer movement has picked up considerably in the last week, with bucks beginning to pursue does even during the day. The most activity continues to be near dusk and at night, and conservation wardens across the state are reporting increased numbers of car-vehicle collisions in the last week. Drivers should slow down and watch for deer along roads. If a deer crosses the road, be prepared for another deer following closely behind.
With leaf drop done across most of the north and progressing rapidly in central and southern Wisconsin, archery deer hunters reported a big increase in success this week, with many nice bucks reported. Crop harvest is also progressing rapidly, which is also making it easier for hunters to spot deer.
The strong winds of a week ago brought in the first flights of northern ducks and increased the number of Canada geese moving into the state. Diving duck numbers are building to peaks on the Upper Mississippi River and large inland water bodies. The aerial counts for pools 7, 8, and 9 on the Upper Miss exceeded 80,000 canvasbacks early last week.
Pheasant hunters are reporting very good success on the stocked state hunting grounds. Woodcock numbers also increased in many locations this week, as their migration seems to be peaking.
Trapping has begun and trappers are reporting increased numbers of raccoon and muskrat, with some potholes and marshes that were empty several years ago due to the drought showing muskrat houses again.
With all the hunting and trapping activity, fishing has been slower, but some very good reports are coming in from anglers who are still fishing. Water temperatures have now dropped into the low 50s and upper 40s on northern lakes, and many lakes either have or are turning over. Musky anglers have continued to provide most of the fishing pressure, with nearly all having switched to live suckers now. Some very good crappie and bluegill action is also being reported on the backwaters of the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers.
Water flows on Lake Michigan tributaries have been kept pretty constant with some timely rains, but levels have now been dropping. This has helped to extend the fish run through October. Salmon were still being reported in most tributaries this week, but numbers have been declining. Egg collection at spawning facilities is coming to a close, after a very successful year.
DNR fish crews netting sturgeon on the Wisconsin River below the Prairie du Sac Dam this week pulled in a 46-and-a-half pound bighead carp, an invasive fish. This is the second bighead carp documented on the Lower Wisconsin River. Bighead carp are a concern because they eat plankton and can potentially decrease populations of native fish and mussels.
Common Loon migration has begun with birds moving into the bigger lakes in Southern Wisconsin and onto Lake Michigan to stage before they leave for the Gulf Coast for the winter. People can follow the loon migration online at the USGS Loon website [http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/terrestrial/migratory_birds/loons/migrations.html]
Tamaracks, the only conifer in Wisconsin to turn color and drop leaves, are now bright gold across northern and central Wisconsin, and a second burst of fall color has arrived in southern Wisconsin this week, with trees that were green last week turning red/rust color, and many yellow leaves still holding on.
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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.
Statewide Birding Report
Common Loon migration has begun with birds moving into the bigger lakes in Southern Wisconsin and onto Lake Michigan to stage before they leave for the Gulf Coast for the winter. People can follow the loon migration online at the USGS Loon website [http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/terrestrial/migratory_birds/loons/migrations.html]. Hawk migration is past peak but the later species are just now moving into the state. Birders should expect to see increases of rough-legged hawk, bald eagle, red-tailed hawks and an occasional golden eagle if they are careful observers. Hawk Ridge has even reported a fair number of northern goshawk moving into Wisconsin this year. Some northern finches have begun to arrive in northern Wisconsin including both species of crossbill, pine siskin and common redpoll. Many of the expected October migrants are present statewide including kinglets, fox sparrow, sapsuckers, rusty blackbirds and many open-country sparrow species. Birders with access to weedy fields or prairie restorations should find productive sparrow searching in these habitats! Diving duck numbers are building to peaks on the Upper Mississippi River and large inland water bodies. The aerial counts for pools 7, 8, and 9 on the Upper Miss exceeded 80,000 canvasbacks early last week.
DNR Northern Region
Superior DNR Service Center area
Brule River State Forest - Snow was falling for a short while in Brule on Thursday, Oct 27 reminding everyone that the area could be snow covered any time now. Hunters are reporting that woodcock have been plentiful while grouse hunting has been spotty. One hunter mentioned that he saw a snowshoe hare that has almost turned white. Bucks are becoming active with some people beginning to find some rubs and scrapes. Anglers on the Bois Brule River have said that fishing has been difficult with the low and clear conditions. The eagles near the Brule ranger station have been busy dining on the dying salmon. Tamarack trees are beginning to shed their golden needles. The tamarack
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/eek/veg/trees/tamarack.htm is the only conifer in our state that changes color (to yellow) and sheds all of its leaves each fall.
Ashland DNR Service Center area
Ashland County - Trapping season is open for raccoon, bobcat and fisher. Trappers and bobcat hunters are reminded that all bobcat carcasses must be submitted statewide at the time of registration. Some nice catches of raccoon are being taken; mink catches are down a little but should increase with the cooler weather. Fox and coyote restraint season runs from Dec. 1 to Feb. 15 for both species and this is the only time during the coyote and fox season that cable restraints may be used. Geese are still in the area in Iron county, new birds are arriving with the colder weather. Grouse hunters should still be looking for birds in the cover areas. Squirrel hunting has been okay in areas that have enough oaks to support a good crop of acorns. Several nice trout have been taken in the area trout lakes. Archery hunters are seeing more deer moving with the fall rut coming, deer are hitting the corn and apple baits along with the smaller bears that are still moving around looking for an easy meal. Hikers and bikers are enjoying the area trails as the weather has been nice, get out and enjoy the north wood before the first snows arrive as numerous flocks of snow birds are being seen.
Bayfield County - The leaves are basically gone with all the high winds the other weekend, but grouse have still been quite elusive with hunters working for them. Duck hunters have been doing well on Chequamegon Bay with a mixed bag of redheads, mallards, teal, and some geese mixed in. The big push of diver ducks has not happened yet, but with the cooler weather it won't be long. The tributary streams are not giving up much for trout and salmon with anglers having to put their time in for them. Quite a few bobcats, coyotes, deer, and porcupines have been seen out and about foraging for food.
Douglas County - Past peak now describes fall foliage. High winds in the area for the last few days have brought many leaves down. The high winds and cooler temperatures also seem to have ushered in some flight ducks into the area. Contrary to prior statewide reports, waterfowl and grouse numbers in the area seem to be way down.
Hayward DNR Service Center area
Sawyer County - Bobcat, fisher, raccoon, mink and muskrat season have been open for a little over a week now in the northern area. Trapping pressure appears to be fairly light as of yet. Creeks are spotty with traps. Even creeks with traps appear to only have one or two trappers at most, with some having no trappers. A few trappers say gas prices, lower muskrat and mink population and an unstable fur market are putting a dent in the miles they are putting on to trap animals. So far, water fluctuation has treated the water trappers well, with only a little drop or rise each checking on the creeks and rivers. This makes the line run quick and smooth as there is not much having to be done to readjust the traps. Thus far, the nights have been good as well not causing much, if any, ice over on the traps. For a light foot mink, a small amount of ice over the trap?s pan could mean a missed animal. Some lucky trappers are seeing a little better population of muskrats than in previous years in some locations. This could be to a little more water being around the several years ago. Some potholes and marshes are actually showing muskrat houses again, which were empty several years ago due to the drought. Most trappers said they did more pre-scouting this early fall while fishing and doing other outdoor activities to try and establish an economical trap line trapping where there were higher number of animals and travel routes not requiring too much vacant area between setting locations. Raccoon seem to be up in numbers this year, based on sign observed by hunters and trappers and the number of road kill. Some individuals with bear baits were seeing (getting pictures on trail camera) upwards of six to seven large raccoon in their bait baits. Most shorelines adjoining water have raccoon tracks on them. There appears to be a little interest in trapping raccoon, due to the number of the sets that are out right now. Even trappers that don?t normally trap raccoon say that if they are seeing sign, they are setting traps. Trappers are reminded that the beaver and otter season does not open until Nov. 5. Otter can only be trapped if a subject applies for and receives a harvest a harvest permit. A few of the water trappers say they are planning on trapping beaver this year once season opens. Some are going to wait until ice up to trap the ones way back, but will hit road side beaver right away for fear of competition of taking the few close spots out there. Most are saying they think the beaver population is very low and try to manage the areas they find with no other trappers by setting away from the houses and feed beds of the colony beaver locations. This ensures animals to trap the next year. Most trappers say that since the large beaver attract the higher prices, it only makes sense to leave the small ones for ?seed?.
Spooner DNR Service Center area
Barron County ? White-tailed buck scrape lines appeared almost overnight and local archers are hitting the woods. Deer are starting to move and car deer collisions are on the rise. Farmers are harvesting corn around the clock, as the moisture content is around 15 percent in the area. That means no extra time or money spent to dry corn before bulk storage, Yield is high this year with most non irrigated fields producing between 175-200 bushels per acre. Coon hunters are out at night but the warm fall has not caused the pelts to prime up rendering them almost un-marketable right now. Fishing is good and local lakes are giving up nice catches of crappies. Anglers are finding the most success drifting for suspended fish on flats.
Burnett County - Most of the leaves are down in the area. Deer are beginning to get active. A lot of deer can be seen on fields around sunset. Be careful when driving. There are some nice bow deer bucks being registered. There are a few northern ducks showing up in the area. Diver ducks are common in the area. Grouse hunters are reporting some success but, numbers are down in the area.
Polk County ? There are still plenty of flocks of geese in the area. Corn fields are getting harvested and that is giving the geese more options to choose from, which makes scouting areas important for hunters to be successful. Mallards, wigeons, wood ducks, and a pair of redheads were observed in small lakes in the area.
Governor Knowles State Forest - The Saint Croix Campground and Wayside are closed for the season. The water at the Trade River Equestrian Campground has been shut off for the season, so campers should bring their own water for camping and live stock. The toilet buildings at the horse camp will remain open until the first week of November. Hiking trails along the Saint Croix River offer a tremendous view this time of year, and colder weather means no bugs for your hike.
Ladysmith DNR Service Center area
Rusk County - Deer are starting to move with several scrapes being noticed this week. Grouse hunters are having some success, but are reporting that the birds are hard to find. Goose hunting has been steady with larger flocks starting to come into the area. Trappers have been having good success on muskrats. Trappers, remember to call turn in your incidental catches.
Park Falls DNR Service Center area
Deer activity in the Park Falls area is starting to pick up. A few scrapes are being found and deer are being seen moving during daylight hours. Bow hunting pressure seems to be heavy on public lands. Musky fishing action on Butternut Lake and area waters has been pretty productive and conditions have been very good. Grouse hunters are still having some success especially in areas that haven't been heavily hunted.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - Some nice fall weather has made for some very good fishing conditions in the last week, but fishing pressure has remained relatively low with the multitude of other hunting and recreational opportunities across the north. Water temperatures have now dropped into the low 50s and upper 40s. Musky anglers have continued to provide most of the fishing pressure on our local lakes and their success has been quite variable. Nearly all of the musky anglers have switched to live suckers now and this has been the most successful method for finding fish. The medium to large-size suckers have been the preferred bait in the last couple weeks and most of the musky caught have been in the 32 to 40-inch size. Some anglers are still tossing artificial baits but their action has been especially slow with the colder water temperatures. There has been a slight surge in crappie and perch action with a couple reports of nice fish being found near the mid-depth cover, such as emergent weed lines and brush in 4 to 8 feet of water. Walleye success continues to be generally slow with only a few reports of catches being made.
Woodruff DNR Service Center area
Turtle-Flambeau Scenic Waters Area - Despite the fact that the fall colors are now limited, it?s still a great time to get out and enjoy the splendor of the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage, as well as the recreational opportunities found within the area. Hunting interest continues to peak with the onset of cooler temperatures and increased game activity. Fishing on the flowage continues to be good, with reports of nice walleye and musky being caught. Currently the water level on the flowage is at 1,569.0 feet, 3.0 feet below full pool. Remember to take your time on the flowage and enjoy the beauty it has to offer!
Antigo DNR Service Center area
Langlade County - Whitetail deer activity is picking up especially after dark. Corn and other grain fields are being harvest daily. Some decent bucks have been reported to be moving around, although deer sign (scrapes and rubs) remains low as of present. Deer activity has been high after dark along major roads resulting in an increase of car vs. deer crashes. Early trappers report good numbers of muskrats and mink. Grouse numbers remain above average and wood cock have continued on their migration. The winds have stopped and we have had light rain on and off the past week. Temps remain cool which have animals moving.
Florence DNR Service Center area
Florence County - Most of the leaves are off trees. Grouse are being sighted regularly, but reports indicate that the birds are somewhat spooky, and shooting has been difficult. Grouse hunters have been harvesting woodcock on a regular basis. Local waterfowl numbers are very low with no signs of any significant migration. Drivers should be very careful along the highways as deer have been very active, and many deer, as well as a few bears, have been struck by vehicles in the past few weeks. The cooling weather has also prompted furbearer movements with raccoon activity being particularly noticeable. There have been reports of trap theft in Florence County. Anyone finding a questionable trap should contact their local Conservation Warden via the hotline, rather than taking the trap or trapped animal, as molestation of traps is a serious crime that will result in long term revocation of DNR privileges.
DNR Northeastern Region
Peshtigo DNR Service Center area
High winds and rain has kept fishing pressure light. Water temperatures at the boat landings has dropped into the upper 40s.
Marinette County - Deer are really starting to move with the cold temperatures. At least 100 deer were observed in the ditches in Marinette County with the start of the cold weather. Numerous bucks and does. Anglers at the Peshtigo Dam have been catching a mixed bag with some nice pike being caught casting spoons below the silver bridge. Some Salmon and trout are also being caught drifting spawn or drifting yarn fly's. Little River continues to produce some nice salmon using spawn sacks, morning has been the best time. Anglers at the dam on the Menominee are still catching some browns and salmon casting lures and drifting spawn. A few walleye are being caught from the anglers's walkway mainly at night using stick baits.
Oconto County - Anglers at Stiles Dam were still enjoying some nice catches of bluegill and crappie fishing with red worms and minnows respectively and slip bobbers. Salmon and trout are being caught on the Oconto River from the Highway 141 bridge up to the Stiles Dam floating flies or casting small spoons and stick baits. Oconto Breakwater Park and Oconto Park II anglers were catching perch in the boat landing areas using slip bobbers and minnows or crappie rigs. Walleye anglers fishing the bay from the parks have been having little success.
Shawano County - Good numbers of waterfowl are in the area with ducks and geese, pushed down from the north in the last week. Lots of northern mallards have been seen working the recently harvested corn fields along with large flocks of geese. Deer are really starting to move with bucks being seen during day light hours and the start of the rut. Archers are hunting hard in an attempt at that trophy. Nice bucks have been taken in the area, some utilizing grunt calls to attract bucks. Pheasants are in good supply. Most hunters are after deer so you would have the duck marshes of pheasant fields to yourself. The leaves have almost completely fallen and lakes have turned over providing. Fishing activity has slowed on area waters due to lake turnover.
Governor Thompson State Park - The hiking trails are seeing a lot of traffic this fall, most of the color is gone but some hikers are trying to find what is left. Despite the cool nights the boat access sites on Caldron Falls have had some campers. The office is busy with prospective hunters gathering information about where and what seasons are open for hunting in the park. Nice weather days in the park and giving people the chance to get out and enjoy canoeing and kayaking a few more times before winter comes.
Peshtigo River State Forest - The weather has cooled down and the leaves are blowing away with the windy days in the north woods. The forest has seen more hunters scouting out a place to hunt, and at the same time the number of anglers out on the water is declining. The hiking trails are busy with people trying to catch what's left of the fall color. Old Veteran's campground has had a few more campers now that some of the county parks have closed for the season.
Green Bay DNR Service Center area
The weather this week put a damper on fishing. There was little to no fishing pressure throughout the area. Although, once the winds calmed down and the sun came out this weekend so did the anglers.
Brown County - Walleyes were being caught in good numbers on the Fox River by anglers casting crank baits at night by the dam. Anglers were catching some walleye jigging the river channel during the day. Walleye anglers reported catching catfish, white bass, and a few perch as well. Anglers trolling for musky were finding it hit or miss over the last week or so trolling the river or lower bay. Bayshore Park anglers fishing for perch did well this weekend. Most anglers were targeting perch in 15-20 feet of water. Minnows on bottom have been the bait of choice as usual. Anglers trolling crank baits in 15-20 feet of water are catching a few walleyes.
Manitowoc County - Strong west winds at 20-30 mph last week switched northerly with gusts to 45 mph through last Thursday. Light westerly winds at 5-10 mph allowed for calm conditions for the remainder of the weekend. Temperatures throughout the week hung around the mid-40s, rising to the mid-50s over the weekend. Water levels remain very low with great water clarity in the tributaries, but that may change after thunderstorms went through the area late Sunday. Water temperatures for boaters ranged from 49-52 degrees near shore out to 200 feet of water. Water temperatures in the tributaries ranged from 52-56 degrees. The Manitowoc piers began showing signs of better fishing, with more and more rainbow trout being landed floating spawn or using it on the bottom. Anglers have also been using green/silver and orange/silver cleos. The Manitowoc marina slowed this week, with only a few dark chinook salmon and small rainbow trout caught during the heavy winds early in the week using spawn or night crawlers. Angler success continues to be slow near the dams on the tributaries. Fly fishers have had the most luck, but others using large sinkers/bell sinkers with spawn, ear plugs, cookie dough, yarn/yarn flies, etc. have landed a few legally hooked chinook salmon 10-15 pounds. Most of the chinook are very dark and are beginning to turn white on parts of the fish. A very small number of brown and rainbow trout have been seen or caught in the tributaries. This week, Manitowoc Rapids off of Mill Road on the Manitowoc River, the Shoto dam on the West Twin River, and the Mishicot dam on the East Twin River remain the best locations to catch chinook salmon and brown and rainbow trout. Several boats made it out over the weekend with the calm west winds. Little numbers were seen from the boats trolling the pier heads for trout and those trying out to 200 feet. Currently, the best bet is to try in 80-120 feet using dodger/fly combos down deep on your down riggers for 2-3 year old chinook salmon. Bucks are busy making scrapes and squaring off with each other. About 80 percent of leaf cover on trees has dropped. Raccoon activity at night has become a lot more evident due to corn being harvested from many fields.
Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area
Door County - Fishing has been limited to days when the wind isn't creating a small craft or gale advisory, very windy as of late. Perch fishing was good this weekend at Little Sturgeon Bay with a few limits reported being caught on Saturday. Most anglers are finding perch in 10-15 feet of water. Minnows on bottom rigs are producing the best catches. Also, northern pike were being caught by anglers casting spoons or large stick baits. A few pike are being caught while trolling. Waterfowl hunting for the most part, is or will soon be, in full swing in many Door County areas with good numbers of ducks and geese. Archery deer hunters are becoming more active with the rut on its way. Good numbers of turkeys, both hens and toms observed along with an unusual number of very small young of the year turkeys observed.
Strawberry Creek Spawning Facility ? [http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/hatchery/strawberrycreek.html]
On a blustery Thursday last week, crews wrapped up a very successful chinook spawning season at the Strawberry Creek Weir, handling about 675 fish and emptying the pond the only time this year. The crew from the Wild Rose Hatchery made a final collection of 336,000 eggs. All things considered the chinook return at Strawberry took a very positive turn after generally declining trends of numbers and size of fish returning to the weir. Crews handled approximately 5,400 chinook over six harvest days this season. The hatchery system collected about 2.3 million eggs for next year's chinook stocking efforts. The improved physical condition of the fish has yet to be quantified by was quite evident while handling fish throughout the run. The average size of eggs increased considerably this year from last year, another encouraging sign. Although some increased numbers of fish stocked at Strawberry Creek the last couple years can account for some of the increase in returns, the remainder is simply a higher proportion of fish returning. Barring any negative results from fish health exams (results from cultures, etc will come in later this fall), I think we can be very satisfied with this year's chinook run.
Potawatomi State Park - All hiking and biking trails are open and in overall good condition. The strong winds this fall have blown away many of the fall colors. Some anglers are having good luck night fishing for walleye and salmon in the area. The accessible fishing pier is out of commission for the rest of this year as a result of the Sept. 29-30 wind storm. Launch piers will remain in the water at Sawyer Harbor until the first week of November. Water is turned off at the shower building, fish cleaning station, and dump station until next spring. The well at the campground shelter remains open year-round.
Kewaunee County ? The salmon run has slowed down, but salmon are still present and available to be caught. The Ahnapee River remains low. Canada geese are abundant and more corn is coming off the fields every day making for a goose hunter?s paradise. Pheasants are being stocked weekly on State Wildlife areas and hunters are taking full advantage of the stocked birds but the public hunting grounds are a bit congested in the morning hours.
Wautoma DNR Service Center area
Marquette County - Duck hunting activity has slowed down and hunters are not seeing large numbers of ducks. Hunters were reporting seeing some diver ducks on Lake Puckaway. The best goose hunting activity is in the southern part of the county. Archery hunters are reporting that they are seeing some nice bucks as they are becoming more active. Squirrel hunters are having good success on public lands as the leaves continue to drop. More than 30 deer where seen feeding in alfalfa fields at dusk.
Waupaca County - Deer ticks are out in full force. Tamaracks are changing color, quite a nice sight.
Waushara County - Pre rut activity is picking up - rubs and scrapes are now appearing. Woodcock are all over central Wisconsin. Wood ducks are still present, pretty late for them to be around. There has been very little fishing pressure on area lakes.
Oshkosh DNR Service Center area
Fond du Lac County - The whitetails are starting to show rutting signs. More and more big bucks are falling as the deer start moving more during daylight in search of receptive does. Time to get in the stand and sit all day for those afternoon cruising bucks!
Winnebago County - Cooler temperatures and crop fields being harvested have opened the door for bow hunting enthusiast. Typical rutting activity within the area picks up around this time through the first couple weeks of November in Winnebago County. Archery hunters are reminded to use tree stand safety devices. Many hunters fall from tree stands every year. Nationally, 1 out of 3 hunting injuries involves an elevated tree stand. These falls are preventable by using a few guidelines. 1) Check equipment and tree stands prior to the season. 2) Always wear a harness or Fall Arrest System (FAS). 3) Take your time getting in and out of a tree stand and wear a climbing belt. 4) Never carry equipment up or down with you. Instead use a haul line to raise and lower equipment. 5) Maintain as many points of contact with the ladder or tree steps.
DNR Southeast Region
Milwaukee DNR Service Center area
Milwaukee County - Water flows on the streams have been kept pretty constant with the big dousing of rain received. This has helped to extend the fish run through October. The colder weather may affect the fishing, but folks were still out and about. The deer have been moving more lately and again with this cold weather coming in activity is sure to increase. Not many reports of a big waterfowl migration yet. Hunters were still seeing a number of local birds around and those are the target for folks at this point.
Havenwoods State Forest - Pick a warm, sunny fall day and visit the prairies at Havenwoods for some sensory overload! Smell the seed heads of yellow coneflower and mountain mint. Touch the sandpapery dried leaves of prairie dock and compass-plant. Search for the last remaining purple flowers of New England asters. Listen to the crunch of leaves on the path. Feel the softness of Indian grass and milkweed seeds. Soak up a little extra warmth from the sun. In every direction, there are textures, colors, and smells waiting to be discovered.
Kettle Moraine State Forest, Pike Lake Unit - All trails are open to hikers and in good condition. Fall color is mostly past, but some late color remains. The campground and all campground facilities are closed for the season. Swim area buoys have been removed for the season. Either the forest office or beach contact station is open on weekends. The main beach toilet building is open. The north beach toilet building is closed for the season. A portable toilet is available at the nature trail parking area year-round.
Kettle Moraine State Forest - Southern Unit - A surprising second burst of fall color has arrived in the Forest this week. All the trees that were green last week skipped directly to a red/rust color on Monday. There are many yellow leaves that are still holding on, so for a few more days we have a brightly colored forest. We don't expect the leaves to stay on the trees for very long, so plan you hike or ride for this weekend. The Ottawa Lake Campground is going to be busy this weekend. There is a camp site decorating contest as well as a pumpkin carving contest. The weather should be great this weekend to fit in a last trip of the year. Bring an extra blanket for the cool nights! Pheasant hunting is in full swing across the Scuppernong River prairie. The landscape is dotted with blaze orange most of the day. A set of 10 free leg bands are required for those hunting the areas where hens and roosters are stocked. These tags are available at the Forest Headquarters on Hwy 59, but you must bring in your small game license and pheasant stamp in order to pick them up.
Kohler-Andrae State Park - Gray squirrels are busy gathering nuts. Large flocks of birds such as bufflehead, mallard, Canada goose, and herring gull can be seen from the Lake Michigan shoreline. Male American goldfinches are getting their winter colored feathers. The park water system (showers, flush toilets, and drinking fountains) is closed. The trailer dump station is scheduled to close mid November.
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County - ? In Sheboygan fishing pressure on the Sheboygan River has been fairly light, and catches have been hit or miss over the last few days. Most anglers have been targeting the deeper pools, as the fish density has declined recently. Fly anglers continue to have the best luck drifting lures, but some fish have been caught on spoons. Chinooks and coho have made up the majority of the catch. The Sheboygan River water is clear and 48 degrees, and the flow remains low.
Ozaukee County - In Port Washington trollers had better fishing conditions this past weekend, but catches have been spotty. Most success came in 120 to 140 feet of water, and spoons fished off the downriggers have produced the best. A mixed bag of brown trout, rainbow trout, and chinook salmon has been taken. In the Port Washington harbor, shore anglers have taken chinook and coho by casting spoons and crankbaits or by using spawn. Many anglers have reported decent catches, but say that the fish are in relatively poor condition due to spawning stress. The harbor water is clear and 52 degrees. Fishing has been generally slow off the Port pier, but a few chinook have been taken on spoons. Some fish remain in Sauk Creek in the deeper pools. Flows are still low and the temperature is 48 degrees.
Milwaukee County - In Milwaukee, the majority of fishing pressure remains in the rivers, however, shore anglers in the harbor have taken some chinook near McKinley Marina and the Milwaukee Yacht Club. Fresh skein has taken the most fish in that area. Water levels are low on all Milwaukee area tributaries. In the Milwaukee River, fly anglers have been catching decent numbers of salmon in Kletzsch Park and in the vicinity of Capitol Drive. Egg sucking leeches have produced. Good numbers of fish have also moved into the Menomonee River near Miller Park and towards the Miller Brewery. In Oak Creek some mature salmon are present in the deeper holes below the dam. Trollers working near the harbor have been catching mature chinook on J-plugs. When trollers can get offshore from Milwaukee, immature chinook, coho, and rainbows have been taken on flashers and flies fished about 20 to 40 feet down in 120 to 160 feet of water.
Racine County - Shore anglers in Racine have been able to catch a few chinook and coho on spawn, and the area inside the harbor near the Root River has had the most action. Water levels on the Root are low, but anglers continue to catch chinook and coho. Most fish have been taken on flies, and the majority of fishing pressure has been in Lincoln Park. Fish were processed at the Root River Steelhead Facility on Monday, Oct. 24. So far this season DNR crews passed upstream a total of 1,343 chinook, 388 coho, 18 brown trout, and 1 rainbow trout. Fish will be processed again on Thursday, Oct. 27.
Kenosha County - Shore fishing in Kenosha has been generally slow, but occasional chinook and browns have been taken in the harbor and off the south pier. Most fish were caught on spawn. Flows on the Pike River are low, and although chinook can be seen in the river near the mouth, fishing remains slow.
Sturtevant DNR Service Center area
Kenosha County - Fishing activity for salmon in the Pike River continues to slow down as the bulk of the fall spawning run is over. Anglers are still reporting catching salmon but the mouth of the river is no longer open to allow fish upstream. Goose season continues to be productive and hunters have report high success rates as the weather has cooled and geese continue to flock south. Archery hunters are also reporting seeing a high number of scrapes and rubs in Kenosha County over the past two weeks hopefully boding well for this deer season.
DNR South Central Region
Lower Wisconsin State Riverway - Cooler weather is starting to set in and fall colors are past peak and many leaves are completely off the trees. While the panoramic colors are no longer a sight in the Riverway the loss of leaf cover and the die back of understory plants makes for easy and enjoyable navigation of the woods. This is an excellent time of year to get out and take a different look at the Riverway. Revisit your favorite summer spot and gain a new perspective on the area. Paddlers can still enjoy a trip on the river, but please plan for changeable autumn weather. Portable restroom facilities have been removed for the season from all Riverway landings, and the Statz Memorial Canoe Landing just south of Sauk City will be closed for the season. The water is also off for the season at the Mazomanie Dog Trial Area. Water levels can vary on a daily basis. Before canoeing or boating please call 1-800-242-1077 for current river flow at the Prairie du Sac Dam. If flow rates are below 8,000 cubic feet per second the river is very shallow and navigation can become tricky. If rates are above 14,000 cfs sandbars begin to disappear, and camping location are difficult to find.
Dodgeville DNR Service Center area
Green County - As the last leaves loose there color the bucks appear to be starting to rut. The car killed deer has taken a sharp increase in Green County and it includes does and bucks. The waterfowl hunters are still seeing a variety of waterfowl while the wood ducks and geese still remain the bread and butter.
Iowa County - Only the most stubborn leaves remain on the trees now (primarily oaks). Warm season prairie grasses are in their full autumn colors, and seeds are perfect for harvesting. Goldenrods and asters are setting seed too, marking the end of the prairie bloom for this year. Farmers are hard at work removing corn, so deer movement is picking up greatly with the bucks chasing does but breeding still at least a week away. Some nice bucks have been seen and even during midday hours. The majority of grassland birds have all migrated south, although a few eastern meadowlarks are still hanging around. The remaining flocks of sandhill cranes are getting smaller as they too are migrating south. Some hunters have reported seeing woodcock arriving in southern Wisconsin. Some northern ducks have moved into the area and hunters are getting mixed bags of puddlers and divers. Musky, walleye and bass fishing is hot on all area waters right now.
Wyalusing State Park - Mississippi River stage at Prairie du Chien Oct. 27 was 7.5 feet, up 0.10 from yesterday. Anglers are still successful, with nice catches of bluegills being reported. Hiking trails are in good condition. Even though Wyalusing State Park is ?weeks past peak leaf color? and many trees are bare, the bluffs are still beautiful with various shades of rust, mauve, maroon, amber, yellow and brown highlighting the oaks and aspens. The colors are more muted than the brilliance of Columbus Day Weekend, when colors were at their peak. Bird and squirrel nests, previously hidden by full leaf coverage, are now clearly visible in the bare trees. Amazing river views can now be seen due to lack of vegetation. Bird sightings in the park include: bluejays, cardinals, goldfinches, mourning doves, Northern flickers. bluebirds, red-bellied woodpeckers, hairy woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, red-headed woodpeckers, pileated woodpeckers, tufted titmice, wild turkeys, pheasants, turkey vultures, various hawks, bald eagles. The large number of oak trees in the Wisconsin Ridge Campground makes it a great place to find red-headed woodpeckers this time of year. Flocks of robins and bluebirds have been congregating in preparation of their trip to warmer winter climates The howling of coyotes is a familiar sound in the Homestead Campground. Raccoons are frequent visitors to campsites in the Wisconsin Ridge Campground. Campers are reminded not to feed raccoons, and to take their garbage and recycling to the dumpsters each day. Food should be kept in the vehicle. This is a popular ?last camping trip of the year? weekend due to many students being out of school. Weather forecast for this weekend calls for a high of 52 degrees today with a 30 percent chance of rain. There was some rain early Oct. 27, followed by partly sunny skies with white puffy clouds and blue skies. Low tonight will be near 32 degrees. Friday calls for partly sunny with a high near 54 degrees and a low near 30 degrees. Saturday calls for sunny skies with a high near near 53 and a low of 39 degrees. The showers and drinking fountains in Homestead Campground are closed for the year. The dumping station is closed. The shower/flush toilet building in the Wisconsin Ridge will remain open for this weekend. Homestead campers are welcome to drive to the Wisconsin Ridge for water, showers and flush toilets. The concession stand is closed for the season.
Horicon DNR Service Center area
Dodge County - Waterfowl hunters have seen more northern birds in the last week in the Horicon and Theresa marshes. Mallards, pintails, ring necks and green wing teal and widgeon are getting harvested in the Horicon Marsh.
Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area - Eight young whooping cranes were recently released in the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge. These endangered cranes, along with 10 others that are currently following an ultralight aircraft on their migration route, were raised by costumed biologists from the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo. Great efforts were made to keep the cranes from imprinting on humans. When viewing, please keep a distance, 200 yards on foot, 100 yards in a vehicle, and remain quiet and concealed to avoid disturbing the whooping cranes. A good set of optics, either binoculars or a spotting scope, are the best way to view them. As an endangered species, there are severe penalties for harassing the whooping cranes. There are currently about 575 whooping cranes in the world with about 400 in the wild, 104 in the eastern United States. Whooping cranes are noticeably larger than sandhill cranes and are all white with black wingtips verses the sandy/tan of the sandhill cranes. This was the first time whooping cranes have been released at the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge. Last fall, 13 wild whooping cranes arrived on their own and began using the refuge and surrounding area.
Fitchburg DNR Service Center area
Columbia County - Of leaves left on trees, color is at peak in the area. Large "fetches" of dragonflies have been observed at Mud Lake Wildlife Area. Pheasant hunters are reporting good success at properties stocked with pheasants; wild bird production dropped in the county during the past few years. Corn is quickly coming off the fields, leaving less cover for both deer and game birds. The early part of the rut is in full swing in Columbia County. Bucks can be seen chasing does that don't want to be pestered. Large groups of turkeys can be seen roaming the area woods and countryside. Motorist should use more caution this week because the deer are moving about the countryside.
Dane County - Bucks are beginning to move. Two really nice bucks have been hit lately by cars near Fitchburg. There are some great opportunities to view waterfowl migrations in Dane County. Reports of gadwalls, northern shovelers, canvasbacks, redheads, and common loons have been reported on Madison waters.
Lake Kegonsa State Park - The campground, dump station and shower building will be closed for the season on Oct. 31.
Jefferson County - Five tundra swans were seen in a cut corn field off County Highway N south of Jefferson. Walleyes were biting in the Rock River from Lake Koshkonong to Fort Atkinson. Anglers have also had success trolling for walleye on Koshkonong. Area wetlands are still drier than normal. Waterfowl hunters have reported seeing some northern ducks. Which is a welcome sight after the recent cooler and windy conditions moved many local ducks south. Trappers have reported mixed success during the first two weeks of the Raccoon season. Mink and muskrat season opens this Saturday Oct. 29. There are signs of muskrats building huts in some marshes and small ponds. However, wetlands that historically held high muskrat populations are a fraction of their usual size.
Sauk County - Some whitetail buck deer have been seen sparing out in the fields this past week. Bucks have also been seen following does in the fields. Three whooping cranes were still hanging around at the Sauk County waterfowl ponds and nearby farm fields south of Reedsburg for the past three weeks. People can park at the overlook on Pine Bluff Road to get a good view of the cranes. Sandhill cranes have been seen in large flocks in the grain fields. Fishing on the Baraboo River has been slow with a few walleyes being caught below the old La Valle Dam in La Valle. DNR fish crews netting sturgeon on the Wisconsin River below the Prairie du Sac Dam on Oct. 24 pulled in this bighead carp, an invasive fish. The 46.5 pound, 44.5 inch fish is the second bighead carp documented on the Lower Wisconsin River, and the second taken from the same spot. An angler reported catching a bighead carp in July.
http://dnr.wi.gov/news/BreakingNews_Lookup.asp?id=2167 Bighead carp are a concern because they eat plankton and can potentially decrease populations of native fish that rely on plankton for food, including all larval fishes, some adult fishes, and native mussels. Bighead carp can eat 20 percent of their own body weight in food each day, and can grow to 60 inches and 110 pounds Anglers and boaters are asked to report when they catch a bighead or silver carp or the closely related grass carp and black carp. Please take a photo of it, note where you caught it, put it on ice and bring it to a local DNR office. Photos and other information to help identify bighead and other Asian carp are found on DNR's Asian Carp Control Efforts web page.
http://dnr.wi.gov/news/mediakits/mk_carpcontrol.aspCaption: Dave Rowe, DNR fisheries supervisor at Poynette, holds an invasive bighead carp captured Oct. 24 during sturgeon surveys on the Wisconsin River.
Photo credit: Michael Kienitz
Mirror Lake State Park - Leaf color is past peak, but many of the oaks are still hanging onto their leaves adding some red, brown and yellow along side the evergreens. All hiking and biking trails are currently open and in good condition. Bike trails will close for the year on Nov. 1.Shower buildings and the RV dump station will close after Nov. 1. Small game hunting in the park is permitted from Nov. 1 through Dec. 15
Janesville DNR Service Center area
Rock County - Fall fishing has been above average over the last couple weeks. Smallmouth bass, sauger, and walleye have been biting well on the Rock River on minnows and jigs. Anglers below the Centerway Dam caught several smallmouth larger than 16 inches last week. Bluegill and crappie were also biting on Traxler Pond and below the Monterey and Indianford dams with wax worms working well for bait. Water levels on the Janesville stretch of the Rock River below Indianford have been coming up over the last week with recent rains allowing boaters to make it further upriver without hitting rocks and logs. Waterfowl hunters have also been hitting the Rock River and should educate themselves on open water hunting rules. Several hunters have been found hunting from boats in open water without being concealed in emergent vegetation that is rooted to the bottom. There is very little emergent vegetation along the Rock River that would allow for hunting concealment. Hunters need to get permission from landowners and hunt from shore if they wish to hunt along the Rock River in most locations. Ducks and geese have been seen migrating through Rock County over the last week. The sheriffs department is getting more reports of car-killed deer over the last couple weeks as deer start to move more. Bucks have been seen chasing does around the county over the last week. Drivers need to be especially careful in the evening and early morning hours, but deer are also moving in the middle of the day because of fields being harvested by farmers.
DNR West Central Region
Baldwin DNR Service Center area
Interstate Park - The St. Croix River and Lake O' the Dalles water levels are low. The river boat launch is open and in good condition; water level is adequate for launching. All hiking trails are open and in good condition. Most leaves are down except for the oaks which provide a colorful contrast to the pines. Deer are active in the park and more visible with leaves down. Migrating waterfowl, raptors and songbirds are easily viewed from Eagle Peak and Horizon Rock. Flush toilet facilities and the shower building are closed for the season. Vault toilets are available in the campgrounds and picnic areas. Water is available near the old park office building and in the Pines Group Camp. Road construction continues on US Hwy 8 east of St. Croix Falls; expect delays and single-lane traffic. All park roads are open. Expect delays through October while portions of the park road south of the beach area are being resurfaced.
Willow River State Park - The Willow River Nordic skiers will be doing a trail brushing session on Sunday, Oct. 30. Meet at the service building at 9 a.m. Bring loppers, bow saws, and gloves. If you don?t have tools, the park has some. Various volunteers have been doing trail work on their own as their time allows. Camping is winding up for the season. The100 loop will be closed to vehicles and camping on Nov. 1. The 300 loop will be closing to vehicles and camping later in November. The 200 loop will be the winter campground with walk in tent camping when snow hits.
Kinnickinnic State Park - There will be some trail work coming soon, the exact timetable is not known. The very steep hill that is difficult to walk up or down without a hiking pole or ski poles will be shaved down so its not so steep. This will allow the winter trail maintenance crew to get the snowmobile up the hill. Previously the winter trail grooming required the snowmobile and the grooming piece to be driven on the road to reach the ski trails and back to the service building. Obviously the hiking will improve with the gentler hill. The heavy equipment is at Willow for one small job first, then it goes to Kinni. Vault toilets are slated for replacement. The work is expected to be done before snowfall.
La Crosse DNR Service Center area
Bald eagle sightings have been increasing steadily during the past several weeks as the fall bird migration progresses. Good numbers of eagles can be seen along the Mississippi River and Kickapoo River. Eagles, however, are not confined to traveling exclusively along river corridors, so keep a sharp lookout wherever you go. For example, bald eagles have recently been seen flying over Viroqua in central Vernon County, 20 miles from the Mississippi River and 15 miles from the Kickapoo River. Woodcock have been slowly filtering into the area. Bottomlands along the Kickapoo River are prime areas to hunt for these erratic-flying migratory gamebirds. Woodcock may also be found in upland shrubby habitats with an herbaceous ground cover, especially where soil moisture is adequate to support earthworms, a woodcock's primary food source.
Black River Falls DNR Service Center area
Black River State Forest - Fall colors are past peak. Oaks are the only species that still retain some of their leaves. ATV trails are closed for the season. Trails will re-open for winter use on December 15 if the ground is sufficiently frozen. UTV's are not allowed on the trail during the winter time. New this year Jackson County Parks and Forests will be grooming all of the State Forest's snowmobile and winter ATV trails. This will create several efficiencies for both government entities.
Trempealeau County - Pheasant hunters in the area are reporting some good hunting opportunities, especially on state wildlife areas which were stocked before the season opened. Hunters can find information on where pheasants were stocked by consulting the list of stocked areas which is posted on the DNR website. Duck hunters are reporting that ducks are scarce on the rivers, streams, and backwaters in the area. Goose hunters are finding good hunting opportunities now that area cornfields are being picked. Good scouting is the key to locating geese. Hunters are reminded to always ask landowners for permission to hunt and also to thank landowners when the hunt is over. Area trappers are reporting that dry-land raccoon trapping has been excellent so far. The large amount of crop land planted in corn has encouraged a healthy raccoon population, trappers say. Opportunities for trapping fishers continue to expand southward, and trappers are reporting fisher catches as far south as the middle of Trempealeau County.
Eau Claire DNR Service Center area
Clark County - Geese are very active right now. Fields are being picked and waterfowl are hitting them earlier in the evening to feed. A couple of snow geese were seen mixed in with flocks of Canada geese this past week. Goose hunting pressure is light and local farmers welcome waterfowl hunting on their fields. Fishing has slowed down, although a 46-inch musky was pulled out of Mead Lake this past week. The deer are becoming more active and are moving earlier in the day. This was a record week for car car-killed deer in Clark County for this year. Upland bird hunters in the Clark County Forest are reporting that the woodcock have not begun migrating through in any large numbers.
Chippewa County - Most of the fall colors are well past their prime, but the tamaracks are still putting on a nice show in wetland areas. Waterfowl hunters have been noting some diving ducks in the area and there are still a few wood ducks around. Farmers are finding excellent field conditions and have been working hard to get their corn harvested.
Eau Claire County - With the temperature cool down and with corn being harvested from the fields, deer are on the move. The strong wind seemed to slow down deer movement some but there has been an increase in buck activity. Scrapes are being made and deer movement should continue to get better. Archery hunters are reporting some success and deer are becoming more visible in daylight hours. Trappers are reporting some success on raccoon. Waterfowl hunting has been good over the last week. The strong winds blew in some ducks and hunters saw northern diver ducks much earlier than normal. Several groups bagged blue bills, ring necks and one hunter shot two canvasbacks last week. As the temperatures cool off at night the water is starting to cool off. Thomson saw nice catches of Walleyes and Crappie over the last week.
Wausau DNR Service Center area
Tamaracks north of Wausau are bright yellow. Oaks in south have turned deep red/brown color. Drivers should be extra vigilant when driving at night. Deer movement has been on the increase the last couple of weeks and more car vs. deer collisions have been reported. Bucks are chasing does and not concerned with much else, including fast approaching vehicles.
Wisconsin Rapids DNR Service Center area
Portage County - Bluegills and crappies were starting to bite on Wisconsin River backwaters in Portage County.
Buckhorn State Park - Archery deer season has started in the park and wildlife areas. Small game, waterfowl and trapping are allowed in the Yellow River Wildlife Area and Buckhorn Wildlife Area. Fall turkey is only allowed in the Yellow River Wildlife Area. Hunting maps are available online or at the park office. Deer can be registered at the park office during open office hours.
Roche-A-Cri State Park - The main gate is now closed and parking is available in the winter lot on Czech Ave, park stickers required to park there. Parking is not allowed in front of the park entrance gate. Tree leaves are changing in the park and a walk through the prairie has blues, orange, red, yellow and a view of the mound.
Work on the removal and reconstruction of the stairway up the bluff has started and will be going on this fall. The stairway will remain closed during the construction.
