DNR Outdoor Report update, Feb. 5, 2015 - Snow in southern Wisconsin allows ski trails, and a few snowmobile trails to open; most candlelight events of the winter this weekend

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report summary for February 5, 2014

Complete DNR Outdoor Report (Reports from conservation wardens, wildlife and fisheries staff and property managers from around the state)

Snow in southern Wisconsin allows ski trails, and a few snowmobile trails to open; most candlelight events of the winter this weekend

Southern Wisconsin received its first significant snowfall of the new year this week, with snow depths of 4 to 12 inches reported.  This has allowed many southern state parks and forests to groom cross-country ski trails for the first time and for a few southern counties to open snowmobile trails.

The snow is timely, as the most candlelight events of the winter will be held this weekend, with a dozen properties holding events.  The only cancellation at this time was at Peninsula State Park in Door County, which received minimal snow and has icy conditions.  Search the DNR website for keywords "Get Outdoors" to find a complete list of candlelight events.

Snowmobile trails that opened in the south have received heavy use and some areas had already begun to close trails, so snowmobilers should check with county officials, who determine when trails are open or closed or the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR).  Additional northern counties also opened trails and conditions in the north remained good to excellent.

The changing weather of the past week has made for some slow fishing action in the Northwoods.  Most walleye anglers have reported inconsistent success. Panfish action has continued its mid-winter slow period.  The best action in the past week has been for northern pike, with some decent action seen during the mid-day hours on the sunny days.

Colder weather has finally improved ice conditions on Lake Winnebago, with fishing clubs reporting between 16 and 24 inches of ice; however, the continued wind, coupled with warming and cooling has been opening and closing cracks on the lake on a regular basis. White bass and a few perch have dominated the harvest on the east shore, but anglers were struggling to find fish on the north end. The good news is that just a little over a week out from the opening of the sturgeon spearing season water clarity and ice thickness are both fairly good.

Anglers along the Fox River were doing well catching perch and northern pike and ice thickness in many areas is around 16 inches. Anglers on Green Bay continued to have the best success with whitefish, with limits reported on both the east and west shore.

Cottontail rabbit hunting season remains open through Feb. 28.  With the continuation of a snowy landscape, rabbit hunting conditions are ideal.  Coyote and fox breeding activity is starting to peak.  Coyotes are being reported during daylight hours even in urban settings seeking potential mates and marking territory boundaries.  Fox and gray squirrels are also in their mating season.

An effort to bring additional elk to Wisconsin from Kentucky moved into the capture phase this week and crews are having success. The overall goal is to capture as many as 50 elk this winter for reintroduction to Wisconsin approximately half of this goal has been met.  All captured elk are currently in a health-testing and quarantine pen to receive daily care and monitoring for potential health issues.

Several rare birds made headlines across northwestern Wisconsin this week. Most notable was a brambling in Bayfield County, marking only the third all-time state record and second eastern U.S. record in the last decade. This is a flashy finch species native to Eurasia. With the snows and recent colder temps birders have been seeing more birds at feeders, including pine siskins and common redpolls.  Northern shrikes are being seen hunting for voles in restored prairies and grasslands.