Think Smart Before You Start
Take Action For A Safe Snowmobile Season
Whether you were gifted a snowmobile over the holidays or are a veteran on the snow, all riders should be sure to know and review Wisconsin’s snowmobile safety rules and regulations before heading out this winter.
Between January and March 2021, there were 13 snowmobile fatalities in Wisconsin, with alcohol, excess speed, driver inexperience and operator error as the leading causes.
Winter’s fluctuating temperatures, snowfalls and snowmelts can cause unsafe conditions on snowmobile trails. The DNR does not monitor conditions and we suggest snowmobilers contact local fishing clubs, snowmobile clubs or outfitters to ask about the ice conditions in your area.
Remember – no ice is safe ice. Think smart before you start this season by following these tips:
- Don’t drink and ride.
- Stay on marked trails—riding off-trail or cutting corners is trespassing.
- Always wear your helmet and safety gear.
- Slow down and use extra caution at night.
- Travel with a friend, carry a cell phone and let people know where you are going and when you’ll return home.
- Dress appropriately, carry a first aid kit and navigation tools.
- Take a snowmobile safety course.
Click here to view snowmobile regulations, registration requirements or to sign up for a safety course.
Free Fishing Weekend Is Jan. 15 & 16
Free Fishing Weekend is here Jan. 15-16. Get out and share the fun and excitement of winter fishing. No fishing license or trout and salmon stamps are required.
Anglers can fish state waters where there is an open season. All other fishing regulations apply, such as limits on the number and size of fish you can keep and any seasons when you must release certain fish species.
As a reminder, anglers cannot fish spring trout ponds during the Winter Free Fishing Weekend. Please review the trout regulations and 2021-2022 Hook and Line regulations for more information.
If you plan to keep your catch, be sure to review the DNR’s Safe Eating Guidelines to stay informed of potential consumption advisories impacting some waterbodies throughout the state.
Need help getting started? Explore clinics our partners are hosting on the DNR website.
Photo Credit: iStock/happyphoton |
Help Stop The Spread Of Invasive Species – Even During Winter
While it may seem like aquatic invasive species aren’t a concern during cold temperatures, all you have to do is pull up a line on some lakes to discover plants like curly-leaf pondweed are growing just fine under the ice.
Inspect sleds, buckets and lures for invasive hitchhikers and remove them. That goes for even the tiniest plant fragment or animal like a zebra mussel. If you added water to a minnow bucket, that bait can only be used on the same waterbody.
Always dump leftover bait you won’t end up using into the trash; never on the ground or into the water.
Remember to follow state law:
- Inspect boats, trailers and equipment for attached aquatic plant, animals or mud.
- Remove all attached plants or animals.
- Drain all water from boats, motors, livewells, buckets and other equipment.
- Never move live fish away from a waterbody.
- Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash.
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