WIS. DNR OUTDOOR REPORT FOR MARCH 22, 2018

Outdoor Report

March 22, 2018

Some cold nights are retaining the snow and ice cover in the far north, but with no new snow in the last week, snowmobile trails have now closed in all but one county in the north where trails are listed as poor on the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR). The deep snow has allowed cross-country ski trails to remain open and in good to fair condition in several northern parks and forests.

Northern parks and forests, Like Pattison State Park, still have good conditions for cross-country skiing. Photo credit: Gervase Thompson, DNR

Northwoods lakes still have over a foot of ice but anglers have mentioned some slush under the snow. Fishing has picked up a bit with anglers catching some crappies. Lake Wisconsin is still holding on to its ice, but barely. Looks like it will melt off any day now.
Despite a Coast Guard ice breaker making it out of Sturgeon Bay through Green Bay ice conditions on the east shore have remained stable. Fishermen are still accessing the ice of Green Bay on foot off Door County. Fishing action has been good over the last week with most anglers still catching whitefish, some still taking limits. The Sawyer Harbor boat launch in the city of Sturgeon Bay, is now free of ice as of this week, and a few boat fishermen are already taking advantage in pursuit to trout, walleye and northern.
Good numbers of steelhead have been taken below the Kohler Dam on the Sheboygan River. Anglers fishing near Esslingen Park report catching some brown trout. Despite moderate pressure, trout action has been tough from the Sheboygan piers., but a few persistent anglers have had success catching small browns. Many boaters were reporting success catching brown trout to the north and south near the power plant. Several steelhead have been taken at the Port Washington Utility.
Many turkeys are still grouped up in bachelor groups but toms are starting to display and break out of larger flocks on warm days. American woodcock are likely peenting in good habitat. A bear was seen sitting on the ground in Washburn County that looked like it was just waking up.
There has been an increase in the number of baby animals sighted, including fox, raccoon, and squirrel kits. If you see a young wild animal you think is injured or lost, contact your local wildlife rehab center or visit the DNR webpage and search keyword “Keep Wildlife Wild.” Most wild mothers watch their young from a distance, and what you think is an abandoned young animal may be perfectly fine.
Sap is flowing when our temperatures are above 40 degrees and the sun shines and nights are still below freezing. The rest of this week and weekend temperatures looks to be good sap flowing weather. In the south, a walk through the woods may reveal wild onion, hepatica and skunk cabbage, all early spring wildflowers.
Fire season is just beginning. So far this year, 57 fires have occurred in DNR Protection Areas. Main fire causes have been debris burning and equipment.
Despite extensive snow and ice, the vanguard of American robins, red-winged blackbirds, American kestrels, ring-billed gulls, red-tailed hawks, and peregrine falcons have joined the trumpeter swans, Canada geese, common goldeneyes, common mergansers, and other waterfowl as far north as Lake Superior. Loons have returned to far southeastern counties and will trickle into big lakes with open water over the weeks ahead.