DNR OUTDOOR REPORT FOR 1-31-19

View current conditions for Wisconsin State Parks, Trails and Forests
Check out the Wisconsin Department of Tourism (exit DNR).

For current statewide information on statewide snow conditions, log onto the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR).

While most of Wisconsin received fairly good snowfalls last weekend and earlier this week, that was followed by a polar vortex with frigid temperatures of 20 to 30 below zero and wind chills down to 50 to 60 below that put a halt to a lot of outdoor activities. Temperatures are expected to rebound reaching the mid to upper 40s by the weekend.

The new snow has allowed snowmobile trails to open in about half the counties of the state on the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s Snow Conditions Report(exit DNR), including southern counties, where snowmobilers have been rejoicing to use trails close to home. Cross-country ski trails were being groomed on most state properties until the frigid temperatures arrived, shutting down most grooming. Grooming is expected to resume by Friday and ski trail conditionsacross the state should be in good to excellent condition this weekend, though high winds have caused a lot of drifting snow.

The frozen shoreline of Lake Superior at the Brule River State ForestPhoto credit: DNR

Northern lakes are covered with 18 to 20 inches of ice. Most ice anglers who have been out are using ice shanties and tents in strategic positions with heaters a desired commodity. They have been fishing for walleye and crappies with some success. The cold is firming up ice as well on some southern waters.

The Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw has been working in Green Bay and because of ice breaking and high winds, anglers should be extremely cautious of shifting ice. Before the cold arrived the Oconto River breakwater and harbor had very high fishing pressure with anglers catching whitefish. Many anglers were also out at both Fox Point and Voyageur Park on the Fox River. Anglers arriving at 6 a.m. over the weekend found most parking spaces full despite below-zero wind chills. Actions was slow though with only a small handful of walleyes reported if at all. Fishing pressure was extremely high at Little Tail Point with reports of perch, walleye and northern pike caught. Perch anglers coming in from the middle of Little Sturgeon Bay and Sawyer Harbor did well early this week. Whitefish anglers out in 24-25 feet of water had luck with wax worms on small stick baits.

Wildlife has been hunkered down during the below zero temperatures, snow, and wind, but some mammals have begun moving around including deer, wolves, red fox, and grey squirrel. Bird highlights include pine siskin, chickadees, nuthatches and all kinds of woodpeckers. Ruffed grouse have been feeding on dormant flower buds or catkins of trees such as the aspens, birches, cherries, and ironwood.

With the polar vortex moving on just in time for the weekend if freezing rains hold off it could be the first good weekend for candlelight events of the winter. The MacKenzie center has a candlelight snowshoe hike Friday, the Black River, Flambeau River and Northern Kettle Moraine forests and Copper Culture, Mirror Lake and Peninsula parks have events Saturday night. Perrot is holding its Winterfest Saturday with horse-drawn sleigh rides, dog sledding demo, kickski demo and much more. Search the DNR website for “Get Outdoors” or check the DNR Twitter feed for cancellations or contact properties directly to confirm events will be held as scheduled.