DNR Outdoor Report update, February 19, 2015 - Frigid temperatures slow outdoor activities; sturgeon spearing season winding down
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Complete DNR Outdoor Report (Reports from conservation wardens, wildlife and fisheries staff and property managers from around the state) Frigid temperatures slow outdoor activities; sturgeon spearing season winding down Wisconsin was experiencing some frigid temperatures this week with reports of near minus 30 degrees in the Northwoods Thursday morning. Temperatures are forecast to moderate some for the weekend, before dropping again next week. With the exception of the far north that received several inches of snow last weekend, most of the state has not received any significant snow and snowmobile and ski conditions remain unchanged on the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR). Snowmobile trails are open in the far northern counties with conditions from poor to very good. Ski trails are open across most of the state, but trails in the south have become hard and windblown, with a lot of debris being reported and some bare spots. Trails in the north generally remain in good condition. Candlelight events will be held this weekend at Devil's Lake and Governor Thompson state parks. With the colder temperatures in the last week, ice depths have been slowly increasing and most lakes across the north are now in the 15 to 18-inch range. Access conditions have remained a bit difficult, with high winds blowing snow around and creating some deeper drifts. The die-hard walleye and panfish anglers have continued to venture out and most are experiencing some variable success. The cold temperatures and high winds also limited fishing activity on Green Bay and Lake Michigan. Whitefish continued to be the dominant catch with some limits reported along the east shore of Green Bay and some being caught off Marinette on the west shore. Wednesday marked the final day of the 2015 sturgeon spear fishery on the Winnebago System Upriver Lakes. The season closed with a harvest of 288 fish and 59.5 percent of license holders successful. Nine fish tipped the scales at more than 100 pounds. The five-day season is on par with the average season on the Upriver Lakes. There were 152 fish harvested from Lake Winnebago Wednesday and 135 Friday bringing the season total to 1,582. Thursday'sharvest of 52 adult females didn't quite get the season to the 90 percent closure mark and the season will continue at least through Friday. A harvest of 94 or more adult females Friday would close down the fishery. A total of five fish over 100 pounds were harvested Thursday. The capture phase of Wisconsin's 2015 elk reintroduction effort is now complete, with 28 elk awaiting transport to a new home in Jackson County. Captured elk are currently being held in pen in Kentucky, where they will be closely monitored and receive daily care. They will undergo a stringent 120-day quarantine and health testing period, which will include an acclimation period in Wisconsin, before being released in and around the Black River State Forest. This is a multi-year effort, with an overall goal of bringing up to 150 elk from Kentucky. As many as 75 elk will help start a new elk herd in Jackson County, while remaining elk will help bolster the current elk herd near Clam Lake. Turkeys have been breaking out of their large flocks into male and female groups in preparation for the spring breeding season. Due to the frozen conditions ducks and other waterfowl are very concentrated in open water areas such as below dams and aerated ponds so now is still a great time to see them in their bright breeding plumage and watch their courtship rituals. Archived under: Previous Outdoor Reports DNR Outdoor Report in Portable Document Format (Requires Adobe® Acrobat® Reader®) DNR Outdoor Report in Rich Text Format Upcoming Events at DNR Parks, Forests and Trails Outdoor Report editor: Paul Holtan, DNR Office of Communications, Madison 608-267-7517 or paul.holtan@wisconsin.gov |