DNR OUTDOOR REPORT FOR 3-21-2019

Published March 21, 2019 by the Central Office

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).

Spring officially arrived March 20 with the vernal equinox and temperatures leading into it were very spring like, bringing a close to much of the outdoor winter recreation across the state.

Snowmobile trails now remain open in only a handful of northern counties on the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR) and more are expected to close with warm weather this week. Many state parks and forests have discontinued ski trail grooming, so even if a spring snowstorm arrives most trails will not be groomed. Most mountain bike and horse trails are closed and will remain closed until they dry out. There is still up to 2 feet or more of snow in some northern counties, making it a great time to get out and explore on snowshoes, which are a must for trekking out in the woods.

Flood waters were rampant last week in some areas of southern Wisconsin but many went down over the weekend. As of March 20, the Trempealeau River had dropped to minor flood stage and the Crawfish, Rock, Fox and Manitowoc rivers were expected to remain in moderate flood stage through next week.

Rain events during the week and warming temperatures pretty much cleared the snow cover off the ice of Green Bay making for slippery foot travel. Perch season closed on March 15 for Green Bay and its tributaries and anglers fishing the final day of the perch season report catching decent catches of keeper perch. There are still some anglers fishing for whitefish, walleye and northern pike along the east and west shore, but action was slow. The Oconto River is open and anglers were trying their luck for walleye and salmon, with reports of some salmon caught. The Fox River is also open and walleye were being caught there.

Ice fishermen have continued to use the south portion of the lagoon at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee but that ice will very soon be too thin for this to safely occur. They have been pulling some rather large brown trout out of the lagoon in high numbers. The harbor and Lake Michigan side at the park is open-water fishing already.

With warmer temperatures otters are being seen feasting on fish along river banks and below dams.Photo credit: Ryan Brady

With the warmer weather squirrels, rabbits, wild turkeys, and deer have been out in abundance as well. Snowshoe hare coats are turning brown; river otters are giving birth; grouse have started drumming; and maple sap is flowing. Whitetail does and elk cows are getting heavy with fawns and calves, as they are in their third trimester of pregnancy. Otters are being seen feasting on fish and muskrats are out chewing on cattails.

Bonus turkey harvest authorizations, previously known as leftover permits, went on sale this week. After zone-specific sales, all remaining turkey harvest authorizations for all zones will be made available for purchase at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 23.

With the arrival of spring, bird migration is on in full force. Sandhill cranes, red-winged blackbirds, killdeer, robins, and common grackles have arrived in earnest. Great blue herons, eastern bluebirds, and eastern meadowlarks have also returned, as well as the first eastern phoebes, song sparrows, white pelicans, and common loons.