Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report summary for July 26, 2012
Archived under: Previous Outdoor Reports
Much needed rain has fallen across most of Wisconsin in the last week, somewhat relieving the severe drought conditions in the south, but most of southern and central Wisconsin remains dry and emergency burning restrictions remain in place in all or parts of 17 counties. Fortunately, fire danger levels have dropped in much of the state, but they remain high in some central counties.
Angling success has been generally fair across the Northwoods, but with the hot and dry weather of the last few weeks recreational boating has provided most of the activity on many waters. In the south, perch fishing has been fair to good on Lake Winnebago, and panfish continue to bite through the Madison chain of lakes. Heavy weed growth has slowed fishing on inland southeastern lakes.
Walleye action continues to be good along the west shore of Green Bay but smallmouth bass action was slower this week along the Door County peninsula. Warm water is still present in roughly the top 50 feet of water along Lake Michigan and trollers had to work harder to find fish in deeper water, but were still bring in a mixed bag of trout and salmon.
If a little rain didn’t refresh you, and the heat and humidity across much of the state has you down it might be time to begin looking to cooler fall days ahead and start getting hunting gear and licenses updated and ready, beginning with preparing for the first ever wolf hunt.
The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board approved a quota of up to 201wolves that could be harvested during the first season, and state wildlife officials say it is very important if someone has any interest in hunting wolves, that they apply for a permit this year. The quota and permits available to nontribal hunters and trappers will be determined after tribes make their declarations of the harvest quota for the Ceded Territory. The season will run Oct. 15, 2012 through Feb. 28, 2013. Unsuccessful hunters will be awarded a preference point. Permit applications may be purchased at any license vendor, online and by telephone. The permit application fee is $10. The license fee is $100 for residents; $500 for nonresidents. Information on the hunting season proposal can be found on the DNR website dnr.wi.gov search for keyword “wolf.”
Sportspeople are reminded that August 1 is also the deadline to apply for fall turkey hunting permits, Upriver Lakes Winnebago system sturgeon spearing tags, and bear, otter and fisher permits.
Karner blue butterflies started their second flight two to three weeks earlier than normal, and all Karner recovery sites in the Central Forests areas from Waupaca east to Black River Falls have finished their second flight with only a few stragglers left out there. The raspberry crop is at its peak in the Northwoods and the blackberry crop looks like it will also be good with the recent rain. The adult shorebird migration is near peak and songbird migration has begun with reports of Tennessee warbler and yellow-bellied flycatchers outside their breeding ranges. See more in a new Karner blue butterfly feature on the DNR website.
Wild bergamot, brown- eyed Susans, lesser daisy fleabane, the water lilies, some of the aster varieties, orange hawkweed, wild columbine, ox eye daisy.
DNR Outdoor Report in Portable Document Format (Requires Adobe® Acrobat® Reader®)
Upcoming Events at DNR Parks, Forests and Trails
Paul Holtan
paul.holtan@wisconsin.gov
Office of Communications
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
PO Box 7921
Madison WI 53707
(608) 267-7517