DNR Outdoor Report update, January 7, 2016 - Ice and snow conditions continue to vary widely across the state.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report summary for January 7, 2016
Complete DNR Outdoor Report (Reports from conservation wardens, wildlife and fisheries staff and property managers from around the state)
Ice and snow conditions continue to vary widely across the state; most ski trails open, but few counties have open snowmobile trails.
Ice and snow conditions continue to vary widely across the state. Some smaller northern lakes have been frozen over longer than some of the larger lakes. Trout Lake in Vilas County finally froze over this week, but some of the other larger lakes still had small areas of open water or ice thickness in the 1- to 2-inch range. Many lakes in the south remain open or have just minimal ice cover.
The entire state is snow covered, but snow depths range from just 2 to 3 inches in the south, to 8 to 10 inches in areas of the far north. Snowmobile trails are open or partially open in the northern tier of counties and in some central counties, but conditions are generally poor to fair, with a couple counties reporting fair to good conditions on the Department of Tourism Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR).
Cross-country ski trails are open across much of the state, including most state parks and forests. However, conditions vary, with many properties in the south not being able to set track. Snow is in north and rain in the south is forecast for late this week, and the much colder temperatures for next week, so conditions could change.
A candlelight ski scheduled for this Saturday, Jan. 9 at Lake Kegonsa State Park has been cancelled and rescheduled for Feb. 13. A decision on whether to hold a candlelight ski at Kohler-Andrae State Park on Saturday will be made after park staff can evaluate the change of conditions from any rain or snow the park receives this week. Check the "candlelight" event listing on DNR website or call the park for updates.
On lakes with ice in the north, walleye action has been sporadic. Northern pike have provided some action for the walleye anglers during slow periods. Panfish anglers haven't really been out in any numbers yet.
In the south, anglers have been fishing on Lake Wisconsin but action has been slower with some panfish, northern pike and bass caught. Colder temperatures are finally creating a layer of ice along the east shore of Lake Winnebago and ice is starting to form on southeastern Lake Michigan harbors and tributaries. Brown trout and occasional steelhead are being caught at the Port Washington harbor and an occasional brown trout was caught at the Milwaukee River and harbor.
This week wildlife biologists around the state are counting waterfowl and eagles as part of the mid-winter waterfowl survey and eagle survey. Biologists counted high numbers of Canada geese, large rafts of dabbling ducks, mostly mallards, and diving duck species including goldeneyes, buffleheads, mergansers and scaup, on larger open waters and on Lake Michigan.
Even though many winter enthusiasts would like to see more snow, wildlife biologists have noted that the mild winter has helped the deer population. Deer were still eating greens into December. Some large bucks with antlers still attached are still being seen. The weasel and snowshoe hare heaved a sigh of relief this past week as they no longer stick out like a sore thumb in the snowy landscape.
Winter birds including snow buntings, lapland longspurs, rough-legged hawks, common redpoll, pine siskin and snowy owls have been seen in the Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area.