DNR Outdoor Report update, March 6, 2014 - Winter continues to hold a firm grip on Wisconsin
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report summary for March 6, 2014
Complete DNR Outdoor Report (Reports from conservation wardens, wildlife and fisheries staff and property managers from around the state)
Winter continues to hold a firm grip on Wisconsin, snowmobile and ski trails open and in good to excellent condtion
Winter continues to hold a firm grip on Wisconsin, with the entire state receiving additional snowfall in the last week, with up to a foot of new snow reported in the Northwoods. Snow depths range from a low of 10 to 12 inches in the south, to more than 40 inches in some place in the north.
Snowmobile trail conditions continue to be good to excellent in the north and fair to good in the south, with only a handful of counties still having trails closed, according to the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR). Cross-country ski conditions remain good to excellent statewide, including the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine, which received an additional 3 to 5 inches of snow in the last week.
Milder temperatures are finally in the forecast, so this coming weekend may be one of the best last chances for excellent snowmobiling, skiing, and snowshoeing.
The deep snow has state wildlife officials keeping a close eye on both deer and turkey populations, with a few reports coming in of both dead deer and turkeys. The winter severity index that biologists use to track the impact of winter on wildlife has reached the severe level in many northern locations and is approaching severe in some central Wisconsin areas. People are being asked to report any sightings of dead deer or turkeys to their local wildlife biologists. Contacts can be found by searching the DNR website for keywords "dead deer."
Biologists are receiving many inquiries about feeding deer. Deer feeding is strictly regulated in Wisconsin and is prohibited in and around areas where chronic wasting disease has been found. Rules can be found by searching the DNR website for "baiting and feeding." Check out a winter deer feeding factsheet [PDF] for information on why feeding straight corn or hay to deer can be more harmful that helpful to deer, especially in the north or contact a local wildlife biologists for more information.
With the game fish season now closed on many inland waters, ice fishing activity has been minimal. Access in the north continues to be very difficult, with deep snow covering several layers of slush on some lakes. Ice anglers are having difficult times removing shanties do to the deep snow.
Anglers continue to fish Green Bay, especially in areas where access roads have been established. The still need to drill through 30 or more inches of ice to fish. Whitefish action continues to be very good along both the east and west shores of the bay. Some perch action was also reported along Door County, and northern pike action was improving along the west shore at Marinette and Oconto. Most Southeast Wisconsin tributaries and marinas remain frozen over; however, some open water can be found in the Port Washington harbor and the lower Menomonee River and canals in Milwaukee. A few brown and rainbow trout continue to be caught through the ice at most harbors.
While it still looks and feels like winter, lengthening days are signaling that spring migration just around the corner. Bird song is much more prevalent now, as cardinals, chickadees, finches, robins, and sparrows increased their vocal activity this week, and the first migrant sandhill cranes have trickled into southern counties.