justnorth posted on October 19, 2007 20:44 :: 1598 Views
The fall hunting seasons move into a higher gear this week, with the opening of a large number of hunting and trapping seasons. There is a gun deer hunting season opening Thursday, Oct. 18, in the herd reduction zone of the chronic wasting disease management area, which encompasses much of south central Wisconsin. That season runs through Sunday. The CWD zones this year are Earn-a-Buck, meaning that hunters must first shoot an antlerless deer before being able to shoot an antlered buck. Deer activity is increasing as the rutting season approaches and bucks are displaying territorial behavior with both scrapes and rubs becoming more prevalent.
The pheasant, rabbit, raccoon, fox, quail and other hunting and most major trapping seasons also open on Saturday, Oct. 20. Because a gun deer season will be open in the CWD management area, all hunters--except waterfowl hunters but including archery deer hunters--within this area are required to wear blaze orange clothing.
Also, new for the 2007 is a requirement for pheasant hunters statewide to have a pheasant stamp. Previously the stamp was only required to hunt within specific pheasant management zones. Sixty percent of the funds generated through the sale of the pheasant stamp are directed to the State Game Farm to support the pheasant stocking program and the day-old-chick program, while the other 40 percent goes to managing habitat for wild pheasant populations throughout the state. Wildlife biologists plan to stock 70 public hunting grounds this fall with approximately 58,000 game farm pheasants.
Above normal temperatures continue to delay the movement to fall fishing patterns, but those anglers venturing out have been enjoying the warm temperatures when it hasn’t been raining. Northern lakes are cooling and some of the smaller lakes have begun to turn over. Walleye and musky anglers were finding some active fish and panfish were being caught along weed edges. Fishing has been improving in the south, with game fish actions on the rise. Several anglers at various lakes mentioned hooking up with northern pike. Panfish action has also picked up, especially for crappies.
Fishing on Green Bay has continued to improve. Anglers were reporting limits of perch when wind conditions allow. Smallmouth bass action remained fair to good. Musky anglers had great luck with overcast rainy weather providing ideal conditions for a weekend tournament, with the largest fish caught at 53 inches.
Anglers continue to take chinook salmon and brown trout at Lake Michigan harbor piers, although the numbers appeared to be down a little this week. Anglers fishing tributaries had another good week, with most anglers landing chinook salmon. Only a few anglers ventured out into Lake Michigan this past week, but those that did were able to land a few nice chinook salmon and a couple of coho salmon.
The Mississippi River appears to have crested last week at around 10 feet at Prairie du Chien. Early this week the river had dropped to 9.3 feet. The Mississippi River is still seeing a substantial amount of floating vegetation and debris. Fishing action was good this week, with bluegill and crappie caught in many areas. Walleye action was also good in deeper sloughs and back waters. A fair number of sauger have been taken too.
There have been several reports of moose sightings in northern Wisconsin, which is not that uncommon for this time of year as the bulls travel the country side looking for mates.
With most of the state receiving rain in the last week, leaf drop has accelerated especially in the north. Fall colors are now at or just past peak in central Wisconsin and within a week or two of peak color in the south.
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