The latest news from the Wisconsin DNR

DNR Outdoor Report – November 23, 2011

Archived under: Previous Outdoor Reports

Wisconsin DNR Outdoor Report Summary for November 23, 2011

Hunters generally reported good hunting conditions changing to poor conditions in the north on opening day of the 2011 gun deer season. Hunters reported that the rut was still in progress across much of the state, with many hunters reporting seeing and shooting bucks that were actively pursuing does. Light rain mid day Saturday turned to snow across much of northern Wisconsin, with reports of anywhere from just a dusting to up to 9 inches of snow in the far north central part of the state. Colder temperatures and the new snow cover provided improved conditions on Sunday, but many wardens reported it appeared the hunting ranks thinned about the time the Green Bay Packers took to Lambeau Field.

A preliminary call-in tally showed hunters registered 112,581 deer over the two day opening weekend. The preliminary count was up about 5.8 percent from the opening weekend in 2010, with the preliminary buck harvest statewide up about 7 percent and the preliminary antlerless harvest up about 5 percent.

The traditional season runs through Sunday, with mild conditions in the forecast for much of the remainder of the week. Hunters have until 5 p.m. Monday to register deer, so preliminary season totals will not be available until late Tuesday after they are compiled from the more than 600 deer registration stations scattered across the state. The regular season is followed by a statewide muzzleloader season that runs Nov. 28 through Dec. 7, so all hunters are reminded that the blaze orange clothing requirement remains in place during this season. Hunters are reminded they can post photos from their hunt on the DNR’s Facebook page and visit the page to see many photos already posted.

The cold front that brought the snow also pushed more northern ducks into the state. Divers including red heads and ring-necks. Trumpeter swans and whooping cranes and tundra swans were also on the move this week. More than 70,000 tundra swans were staging in the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife Refuge this week. The northern zone duck season closed this week, but the southern duck zone and the exterior goose zone remain open until early December, so waterfowl hunters need to continue to be very sure to identify the species.

For all practical purposes, the open-water fishing season has come to an end in the Northwoods. Musky season will close on Wednesday, Nov. 30 - but very few anglers have been out trying their luck. Many medium-sized lakes saw some skim ice late last week, but that has since gone away with the wind and milder weather. A few of the smaller lakes still have a thin layer of ice -- but thickness is less than an inch and not near thick enough for any kind of ice fishing. There continue to be some reports of a few fly fishers out having success with brown and rainbow trout on Lake Michigan tributaries.

While some areas of northern Wisconsin say their first substantial snowfall and snowmobilers are getting their sleds ready, they are being reminded that trails don’t open until the county snowmobile trail coordinator declares trails open. Using trails before they are open is trespass and can result in the loss of trail easement from landowners.

Immature snowy owls are starting to show up in Wisconsin and across the Upper Midwest. Owls have been seen this week near Ashland, Horicon, Sheboygan, and Door County and other locations.

The Ice Fisherman, and Women Cometh.

Deer Season is half way through, and a new season starts soon!! ICE FISHING. We will kick-off the rebirth of the Radio Show with a special Ice Fishing episode. Find your old Ice Fishing pictures and prepare to upload them to us very soon. Also, come up with some ideas for some funny, or educational Ice Fishing videos for NorthwestWisconsinOutdoorsTV

New Home for the Radio Show

Northwest Wisconsin Outdoors on Spreaker

Next Radio Show 6/17/11 9-10pm

Our next radio show is friday, June 17th at 9pm. you can listen on our show page, or if your away from your computer, you can call 714-868-0219 to listen in, or join the show. if you have a Website, Blog, Facebook page, or Acivity that you would like to promote, feel free to call in and we'll talk about it. The shows are available for listening or downloading about an hour after they air. If you click on the iTunes logo on the BlogTalkRadio player, the show will download through iTunes.
You can find the show page at...blogtalkradio.com/northwestwisconsinoutdoors

Take a kid fishing

Every State has a "Take a kid fishing weekend". Next weekend, we are having a "Free fishing" weekend.
Those are both terms I have a problem with. First things first. EVERY WEEKEND IS "TAKE A KID FISHING", WEEKEND. Sorry, didn't mean to raise my voice. I don't think any of us need to be reminded to drag our kids along fishing with us. Our Dads did it, and our Dads Dads, and so on.
At a certain age, we stop dragging them, and they start dragging us. This is how it has always been, and always will be. And we don't need posters or psa announcements to remind us of that.

On the subject of "free fishing".......I have never, and will never "pay" for fishing. I have, however, donated to the cause of fish and wildlife management and preservation, by purchasing a license. That license is my receipt that shows that I have paid my fair share to the cause, and am granted the "privilege" of catching fish. (size and quantity of fish to be determined by the people i donated to, but that's another story)

Happy fishing