Complete DNR Outdoor Report
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report summary for September 20, 2012
Very mild weather greeted hunters for the opening of Wisconsin archery deer, fall turkey, northern grouse and exterior zone Canada goose seasons. Archery hunters report they have been seeing good numbers of deer and there were quite a few nice deer registered over the opening weekend. Many bow hunters expect to see a lot more activity as farmers continue to harvest corn fields and leaves continue to drop.
Turkey brood production was excellent this summer, and hunters report that wild turkeys flocks have been very visible as they continue to feed on insects and acorns. Hunters also reported seeing good numbers of grouse in the north and that grouse were still in their family broods, so hunters typically had more than one opportunity when they found a bird. Flocks of geese were seen migrating in the north during the past week and some very good goose hunting was reported in the Lake Winnebago area, with many hunters getting bag limits.
Reports from the youth waterfowl hunt were mixed, but some young hunters were lucky enough to walk away with birds in the bag, with blue-winged and green-winged teal most common. The northern zone duck season opens this Saturday and hunters should expect to find a lot of dry potholes and some very low rivers.
Bear hunters continue to report that bears are not hitting baits as well as a few weeks ago due to a very abundant acorn crop this year providing them with more than enough food.
The opening of many hunting seasons seems to have cut down on the amount of angling pressure throughout the Northwoods. Musky continue to provide the most consistent action and anglers report musky have been active at nearly all times of the day. Sturgeon anglers continue to have fair success with most anglers reporting catching a few of these ancient fish on northern rives as well as the lower Wisconsin River. With the cool night-time temperatures of the past couple weeks, the aquatic weeds have begun to die back and densities have declined from their high summer levels and some decent perch, bluegill and crappie action was showing up along the deeper weed edges. In the south game fishing picked on the Madison area chain of lakes, with more and more musky anglers out. Smallmouth bass, walleye and northern pike fishing has also been picking up. Some good perch fishing continued to be reported on the east shore of Lake Winnebago.
West winds throughout the week moved cold water into shore along Lake Michigan, and the near-shore trolling bite has been fair to good. Trout and salmon continue to stage off shore along tributaries, but low water levels and warm water temperatures continue to hamper fall spawning runs. The Root River Steelhead Facility has opened, but as of yet no fish have moved that far upstream.
Fall colors are coming on stronger and moving farther south, with some good color now being reported at the Black River State Forest and Wildcat Mountain State Park. For current statewide information on statewide fall color, log onto the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s Fall Color Report (exit DNR).
Migrating raptors are being seen in many areas and owls are being heard as the days get shorter. The late season wildflowers like aster and snake root are blooming and giving nectar to the numerous bees, wasps and butterflies.
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Paul Holtan
paul.holtan@wisconsin.gov
Office of Communications
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
PO Box 7921
Madison WI 53707
(608) 267-7517