The Black & White of It
4-25-2013
Here’s the black and white of hunting and fishing Wisconsin in late April, with all eyes on May 4 and open fishing. If you’re chasing turkeys in the south, at least you have bare ground despite the near non-stop rain. If you’re after Tom in the north country, you’re dressed in white camo or at least carrying a sheet to deal with two feet of snow or more…which just keeps coming.
The lingering winter is stressing out deer in some Wisconsin deer, according to an April 24 media release received from the DNR. Although winter did not arrive in some areas until well into February, according to the DNR, it has persisted longer than normal and the impacts on individual deer are being seen in some areas.
The prolonged winter is stressing deer in parts of northern Wisconsin and the northeast including Door County.
“Hard winters are not something new to Wisconsin’s deer herd,” said Kevin Wallenfang, state big game ecologist with the Department of Natural Resources. “Winter severity is a variable, natural process that can reduce deer numbers in some years. Our herd handles it well in most years, but we are seeing stressed deer in all areas of the state, including direct losses due to starvation in farmland areas where you wouldn’t normally expect it.”
Read the entire release we’re posting here under “Deer Hunting” and “Outdoor News”. Also, please send any comments on deer hunting or deer management in Wisconsin to On Wisconsin Outdoors at ellis@onwisconsinoutdoors.com anytime and we will post your opinions.
Also, better change your plans if your open water target is in northern Wisconsin. There’s still 30 inches of ice on most lakes.
OWO contributing writer Dick Henske said today, April 25th, that temperatures hover at 28 degrees in Manitowish Waters in Vilas County with two feet of snow on the ground and 30 inches of ice. Those totals can change significantly even in other areas of Vilas County, which missed most of the 10-inch snow fall this week that plastered Manitowish Waters and other parts of the northland. But don’t plan on opening day fishing May 4, at least on open water.
“Go to Florida,” suggests Henske, who just returned from the south after spending the winter chasing ocean fish. “For sure look for alternatives to fishing northern Wisconsin on May 4. You won’t get into any cabins unless this 60 degree weather they’re calling for next week gets rid of the snow fast. They can’t use plows right now. They have to bring in front-end loaders to get in first. Even if the snow is handled the ice will still be here.”
Don’t expect to see open water or even bare ground in northern Wisconsin on May 4. This photo came in from OWO guide Phil Schweik in Wausau April 25. Check out the fishing reports on this website under Inland Fishing.
Henske was chasing turkeys in his white suit and gloves last week and walking in and out on his same tracks due to the deep snow. He flirted with some nice Toms but all he got….was stuck in his truck with snow to the windows.
“The turkeys are handling the winter fine and walking on top of the snow,” Henske said. “We’re seeing some bad looking deer where there are no cabins. Although people are not supposed to feed deer in many areas where there are cabins people are feeding them and the deer are looking good although they are walking on roads and driveways. In those more remote areas the deer were eating the browse on the roadside where the sun had melted the shoulders. In our area we got another 10 inches and that grass is covered again.”
Back in southern Wisconsin, brother John Ellis and I had one day to hunt the Grant County area of Zone one during the period two turkey season. Compared to the north, we had a stroll in the park. Birds were quiet at daybreak with the exception of a distant gobble or two. We stayed together and hunted for three hours without seeing a bird before separating. John called in and tagged a real nice Tom with about a 9-inch beard that was traveling with several hens. I saw one hen all day and as soon as I figure out who to blame that on I’ll let you know. But shouldn’t an outdoor writer be a little more talented on the water and in the fields? I do write a heck of a sentence though, and am looking forward to an over the counter late season tag to try…try…again. Send us your bird photos to ellis@onwisconsinoutdoors.com. We’ll make you famous.
Connect with “Dick’s Trips” here and read about another of my gobbler failures. If nothing else, you have to admit I’m excellent for your own self-esteem. Simply compare….and be glad you’re not me.
Over 800 young athletes from six states are expected to travel to the Burlington Conservation Club this week for one of the largest youth clay target events ever held in Wisconsin. The annual Burlington Invitational will be held from today, April 25th to the 28th at the Burlington Conservation Club in Burlington, WI. The event will be held following the guidelines of the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and is open to school-aged athletes and SCTP teams.
The young athletes will compete in a 100-target 16-yard American Trap event in five-person squads with the highest total of broken targets being crowned champions. Last season the BHS Demons Shooting Team came away victorious with a score of 470 of a possible 500 targets; many of the teams are coming to the event with the goal of knocking the hometown team off the top-spot. There will also be a 25-target international-style wobble trap competition which will use the top three scores from each team added to the top five trap scores to determine a High over All champion team. Read the whole story under “Firearms” and while you’re there, read Robb Manning’s column and all the other material we’ve posted.
Check into “Archery” and read the next column on 3-D shoots by Jenna Heil. This young lady and verified “bullseye wrecker” knows what she’s doing behind a bow, and she has some ideas and tips that you don’t want to miss.
As usual, connect with “Outdoor News”, “Inland Fishing”, or “Fishing Reports” “Explore Wisconsin” or simply browse the On Wisconsin Outdoors website to check into what else we’re posting. Our May-June print issue hits the streets Monday and as promised, we will be posting the 700 locations where you can pick up your copy. We distribute 50,000 papers. The issue should also be posted on this homepage today for those of you who prefer online reading.
Thanks for connecting with on Wisconsin Outdoors. Shoot straight.
Dick Ellis