Wisconsin Outdoor Report as of November 19, 2009

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GENERAL | Northern Region | Northeast Region | Southeast Region | South Central Region | West Central Region

Wisconsin’s nine-day regular gun deer season opens half an hour before sunrise this Saturday, Nov. 21 and runs through Sunday Nov. 29. The opening day forecast is for unseasonably mild weather, with temperatures near 50 degrees statewide. Videos of regional deer hunting forecasts with Outdoor Wisconsin host Dan Small are now available on the DNR Web site. Conditions have been fairly dry, and current fire danger is at moderate across most of the state, so hunters are urged to use caution with campfires and any sources of ignition.

State wildlife biologists are anticipating a statewide deer harvest that will be lower than last year for a number of reasons. There are more areas of the state, especially in northern and northeastern Wisconsin, where recent efforts to reduce deer numbers, combined with below average fawn production, have resulted in deer numbers at or below established population goals. As a result there are fewer deer management units this year under herd control rules and no earn-a-buck requirement except in the Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zone.

Hunters are being reminded that the free antlerless permit that comes with a deer hunting license is only valid in herd control units, so these permits may not be used across most of northern and central Wisconsin. Hunters should check the 2009 deer hunting unit map to confirm the status of the unit in which they plan to hunt. To shoot an antlerless deer in a regular unit, a hunter must purchase a bonus, unit specific antlerless permit. Some regular units do not have any antlerless tags available and others have already sold out. Units with antlerless permits still available are listed on the DNR Web site .

Recent dry weather has allowed farmers to increase the corn harvest, but state agriculture officials report that up to 60 percent of the corn was still standing as of early t his week. Hunters who plan on doing a deer drive through standing corn, need to remember to plan the drive, and then stick to the plan: Know where all the shooters are and know where the drivers will start and end up. Drivers should just be driving, they shouldn’t be shooting, and shooters should only be shooting at deer as they are moving out of the corn. Remember to identify your target and what’s beyond.

Hunter should review the deer hunting regulations before they hit the field. Hunters who have questions can contact the DNR Call Center, toll free at 1-888-WDNRINFo (1-888-936-7463) seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Hunters who suspect violations are occurring in the field can contact the DNR TIP line at 1-800-TIP-WDNR (1-800-847-9367).

The recent mild weather has brought out a few more anglers this week, with musky still the main target in the north. Most of the anglers continue to drag large suckers around and success has been fair. The brook trout spawning season is about at its peak. Male brook trout exhibit some spectacular spawning colors and they can often be viewed on their redds in native brook trout streams, but please watch from a distance and to not disturb the fish or these fragile spawning areas -- as this represents the future of that brook trout population. Cold night-time temperatures have caused some skim ice many small ponds and shallow bays, but for the most part any sort of ice fishing activity is still several weeks away.

Whitefish continue to be caught on the Menominee River at Marinette and shore anglers fishing Lake Michigan harbors and marinas report catching rainbow and brown trout and coho salmon on both spawn and crank baits.

Duck and goose hunting has been steady but there have been no major flights of northern birds recently due to the mild weather. The northern zone duck season closes next Tuesday, Nov. 24.

NORTHERN REGION

Superior DNR Service Center area

Brule River State Forest - This weekend marks the beginning of the nine-day gun deer season. It is highly recommended that hunters look at their tags before heading out into the woods. Keep in mind that almost of the Brule area is NOT in herd control this year. Hunters who plan on harvesting a doe must purchase a doe tag, since the antlerless tag that came with the rifle license is for herd control units only. More information on the 2009 deer carcass tags (pdf) is available in a fact sheet on the DNR Web site, along with the 2009 Deer Season Forecast. Deer Management units in the Brule area with antlerless tags available as of Nov. 18 included 1: 708; 2: 4,946; 6: 4,381; 8: 134; 9: 3,018; 13: 1,454; and 14: 4,922.

Park Falls DNR Service Center area

Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - Milder temperatures over the weekend brought out a few more anglers and musky were the main target. Most of the anglers continue to drag large suckers around and success has been fair. Action has been best on the deeper break lines in the late afternoon hours after the water has warmed up a bit. Just a few walleye anglers are still trying their luck and have reported little success, with bites even being hard to come by. The brook trout spawning season is about at its peak, typical for the mid-November period. The male brook trout exhibit some spectacular spawning colors and they can often be viewed in their mating rituals on many native brook trout streams. Look for the spawning fish around gravel areas in riffles in the smaller tributary streams. Observers are reminded to watch from a distance and not disturb the fish or these fragile spawning areas -- as this represents the future of that brook trout population. Cold night-time temperatures have caused some skim ice many small ponds and shallow bay areas. But for the most part, lakes remain open and several weeks away from any sort of ice fishing activity.

Woodruff DNR Service Center area

Very desirable weather should greet hunter’s opening weekend of the deer gun season. While no snow cover exists, it is predicted to be near 40 degrees for temperatures. Deer are still in rut so one can plan their strategies with that in mind. The bucks are still actively “chasing” and will no doubt still be in that mode come opening morning. Cool night time temperatures have caused some of the smaller lakes and shallow bays to skim over with ice. Daytime warmer temps have inhibited any significant ice formation so many late season musky hunters are taking advantage of the open water opportunities. Most success is reported to be associated with using suckers as bait. A reminder that waterfowl season closes on Nov. 24 in the northern zone.

NORTHEAST REGION

Peshtigo DNR Service Center area

Marinette County - Some light precipitation is expected before the weekend opener but conditions right now are dry. Please be cautious with camp/cooking fires during this hunting season as dry conditions can spark fires on public and private lands. Whitetail bucks are in the rut for the mating season creating rubs and scrapes to mark their territories. Deer activity has increased across roadways during dawn and dusk hours, be aware while driving your vehicles as deer are unpredictable. Turkey hunting in Unit 1 through 5 was extended, reopening Nov. 30 through Dec. 31. Some corn fields are still standing in agricultural areas. The big angling news is whitefish...anglers have been successfully harvesting lake whitefish from the Lower Menominee River, particularly near the Hattie Street bridge. A few nice steelhead and brown trout have been sampled there during fall shocking surveys. Walleye are few and far between, and most of them appear to have moved out of the river.

Shawano County - Areas in which rifles are allowed for deer hunting have been expanded this year to that portion of Shawano County south of State Hwy. 29 and west of County Hwy. J. The change was recently approved by the Natural Resources Board and now has passed legislative review. The extended areas do not appear in the printed hunting regulations because they were approved after publication deadlines. The change took effect Oct. 1 and is in place the gun deer season.

Sturgeon Bay DNR Service Center area

Potawatomi State Park - No hunting is allowed in the park in 2009. Deer hunting will take place at Potawatomi during the regular gun deer hunting season in 2010. The fall colors have disappeared, but visitors can see more in the park this time of year with the leaves off the trees.

Oshkosh DNR Service Center area

Winnebago County farmers have about 60 percent of their corn still standing. Hunters who plan on doing a deer drive through the corn, need to remember to plan the drive, and then stick to the plan: Know where all the shooters are and know where the drivers will start and end up. Drivers should just be driving, they shouldn’t be shooting, and shooters should only be shooting at deer as they are moving out of the corn. Remember to identify your target and what’s beyond. Is the driver still in the standing corn? A deer drive is an effective way to move deer out of their refuge, even if it is an 80 acre field of corn. Be careful out there and have a safe and enjoyable hunt with family and friends. Hunters who harvest a deer and who would like to donate it to a venison pantry can donate the field dressed deer at Beck’s Meat Market in Oshkosh. Call them at 920-589-2104 to get information on drop off hours. A list of other processors that are participating in the Venison Pantry program is available on the DNR web site [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/damage/donation/dropoff.htm].

SOUTHEAST REGION

Ozaukee & Washington counties - All wetland areas in the Ozaukee, Washington and eastern Dodge counties region will be unfrozen for the gun season opener, making access for hunting more difficult in some areas. Deer breeding behavior is still ongoing, with many car-deer collisions still being reported. Corn harvest has stepped up but many fields will still be unharvested providing more areas for deer to hide. On Theresa Marsh in Dodge and Washington counties, duck and goose hunting has been steady but no major flights of "northern" birds have been noted due to the mild weather. Water levels on the marsh were dropped slightly before freeze-up, as is done each year for management purposes. Pheasant stocking on Allenton, Theresa and Jackson marshes is on hold until after the nine-day deer season. Two more stockings (one per week) are planned for the properties for the first two weeks in December.

Harrington Beach State Park - Fishing has been slow. Trails are in good hiking condition. A few of the trails wind their way through an area open to hunting. Harrington Beach is open to hunting during the Regular Deer Season, Nov 21 to 29, as well as the Muzzleloader Season Nov. 30 to Dec. 9, to hunters with a valid park permit and with a muzzleloader only. It is also open for the Late Archery Season Nov. 30 to Jan. 3, 2010 to hunters with a valid park permit. We have areas of the park that are closed to hunting that have many of the hiking trails including the Quarry Lake Trail. Campgrounds are closed for the season.

Kohler-Andrae State Park - Nature trails and hiking trails are open. Kohler-Andrae State Park is open to deer hunting in specific locations. Deer have been seen every day. The open hunting area includes state land west of the Black River except for state land south of Old Park Road. The Black River Trial system is open to hunters during the entire hunting season at Kohler-Andrae State Park. Recreational users should plan on wearing blaze orange while hiking, biking or horse riding on the Black River Trail system. The no hunting areas include all state land east of the Black River which includes the main recreational areas within the state park, the Kohler Dunes State Natural Area, the family campground and all picnic areas. The gun deer hunting season (muzzleloaders only) is Nov. 21-Dec. 9. Archery deer hunting is Nov. 30-Jan. 3, 2010. Only holders of a 2009 Park Access Permit for deer hunting in Kohler-Andrae State Park (Deer Management unit 77E) may hunt in the park. Showers, flush toilets, and water fountains are closed for the season. The trailer dump station is still open.

Washington County - While open water fishing is winding down for many people in Wisconsin, efforts continue to control invasive species that pose a potential threat to Wisconsin fish populations and fishing. DNR crews last week chemically treated a Germantown pond where the state's first invasion of a destructive crayfish was documented. The crayfish prey on fish eggs, compete for food with older fish, and clip off the aquatic plants fish need for habitat. The treatment, which used chlorine bleach, is part of a multi-pronged plan to eradicate the crayfish. A new video on the treatment: is available on the Invasive Species page of the DNR Web site.

Lake Michigan fisheries team report

Sheboygan County - In Sheboygan shore anglers have been catching rainbow and brown trout and coho salmon on both spawn and crank baits in the marina. In the Sheboygan River anglers have been catching fair numbers of coho, browns, and steelhead between Esslingen Park and the Kohler dam. Most fish have been taken on flies and spawn.

Ozaukee County - Shore anglers in Port Washington have been catching good numbers of browns, coho, and rainbows near the power plant and in the north slip. Both skein and spawn sacs produced fish. Fishing on Sauk Creek has been slow.

Milwaukee County - In Milwaukee shore anglers have been catching a few browns on spawn near the Summerfest grounds and in the Menomonee River at the MMSD offices. Some browns and steelhead have been caught in the Milwaukee River downstream of Estabrook Park, with small flies and spawn both producing.

Racine County - Shore anglers fishing in the Racine harbor have been catching a few browns. Crank baits and spawn have produced the most fish. On the Root River, water levels have been dropping steadily, and water clarity has been improving. All areas of the river have been holding fish. Browns and coho can be found on the gravel beds, and yarn or small natural flies have produced the most. The Root River Steelhead Facility was shut down on Thursday, Nov. 12, and the stop logs have been removed from the river. A total of 1,695 chinooks, 1,131 coho, 99 steelhead, and 95 browns were passed upstream.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION

No reports.

WEST CENTRAL REGION

Baldwin DNR Service Center area

St. Croix County

Willow River State Park - The gun hunting season for deer opens Saturday, Nov. 21 in undeveloped parts of the park. These areas are generally north of the Willow River and some property off to the east. Hunters can expect to share the area since opening weekend tends to draw a lot of participants. All open area are posted as such and trails near or in hunting areas are posted. No rifles are allowed. Hunters need a park sticker on their vehicle and a deer hunting license to hunt in Willow River State Park. The park is now in a Herd Control unit. Many of regular non-hunting visitors go about their activities as usual during the gun hunt and they wear bright clothing. Many of these people are not here at low light; they always come out during the mid day hours. Trail heads that enter or are near open hunting areas will be posted with informational signs so visitors can make informed choices. Maps are posted at the office showing the open and closed areas. Areas completely away from the open hunting zones that hikers might use include the Hidden Ponds Trail, the road within the park, the former disc golf area, the boat launch, the family and group campgrounds, the Brown Trail, the Yellow and Orange Trails. Going down the hill to Willow Falls does bring the hiker directly across the river from an open hunting area but for only a short distance. The hiker is on a higher elevation than the hunting area. A couple of alternate choices would be county or township parks with no hunting. Homestead Parklands is at nearby Perch Lake and Glover Park in Troy Township has a variety of trails. State Park stickers are not valid in those places. Little Falls Lake has been drawn down somewhat to complete repair on the seawall. Please do not enter the construction zone. From the shoreline, it is an uncommon opportunity to see some of that cover that holds fish or does not. The work should be done by the weekend.

Wisconsin Rapids DNR Service Center area

Buckhorn State Park - The upcoming gun deer season will be allowed in the Yellow River Wildlife Area only and not in the park or new parkland. A timber sale is being done at this time in the Yellow River Wildlife Area along 18th Ave. Deer can be registered at the park office when staffed. New maps are available at the park office that show the parkland that was acquired last fall which is now state park land and has the hunting rules on them. An accessible deer bow hunting blind and two accessible waterfowl blinds can be reserved by persons with disabilities. Individual campsites and sites in the group camp are open to camping and are non-reservable.

Roche-A-Cri State Park - The main gate and campground are closed for the season. Parking is allowed in the winter/prairie parking lot on Czech Ave. and park stickers are required for all vehicles in that lot. Hunting is not allowed in the park. There is a hunter parking lot on Cypress Ave, east of Highway 13 at that hunting area.