Hayward Lakes Sherry
12-09-2010, 12:58 PM
December 06, 2010
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Winter might not start “officially” until December 21, but it has arrived in the north woods. This week’s forecast indicates cold nights – good for making ice – and generally low highs, with a few chances for snow.
Pat at Happy Hooker thinks there could be good ice for fishing by next week.
“This is the time to use common sense and extreme caution,” says Pat. “There are already several incidences of breakthroughs. If you go, go with a buddy, and spud your way out – the ice honeycombed due to the early freeze-over followed by rain. Be smart, be safe, and be patient.”
Nelson at Hayward Bait says anglers are having some success on the Chippewa Flowage, Nelson, and the Eau Claire lakes.
“Ice thickness is about four inches, primarily close to shore, but it varies from lake to lake, so USE CAUTION.”
Al at Pastika’s says anglers are starting to fish the back bays, with most anglers targeting walleye and northern pike.
“If the weather pattern holds we could be fishing the big lakes by mid-week or the weekend.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says ice thickness is unpredictable on Upper Chippewa Basin lakes.
“I checked the ice thickness at several spots on Butternut Lake in the week and found it to be real variable. A week ago, there was still an open-water area in the middle and thickness ranged up to more than three inches near shore in a couple spots. It appeared to be much thinner out away from shore.”
In the past week, Hayward area registration stations (Shooting Star, Hillman’s Store, Hayward Bait) registered 20 antlerless deer and 15 bucks for muzzleloader season, including one big eight-point, and two bucks for late archery season.
Muzzleloader deer season runs through Dec. 8, while late archery season runs through Jan. 9.
A statewide antlerless-only gun deer hunt runs Dec. 9-12, and tagging rules depend on the DMU type. Check the rules carefully for the deer management unit (DMU) you hunt.
Regular units require a unit-specific antlerless tag (if available) costing $12 for residents and $20 for nonresidents. Herd control units require a herd control antlerless tag available for $2 each from all license sales agents.
Reminder: The blaze-orange clothing requirement is in effect when any gun deer season is in progress.
The DNR reports a preliminary total for Wisconsin’s regular nine-day gun deer season of 218,144 deer, an 11 percent increase from 2009. Hunters registered 102,006 bucks (17-percent increase) and 116,138 antlerless deer (nearly seven- percent increase.) License sales totaled 621,094 at the close of the season.
The DNR expects harvest numbers to change before publishing the final report in late winter, and the preliminary number does not include the archery seasons, October antlerless hunt, muzzleloader season, and the December antlerless gun hunt. County-by-county harvest by region with comparison to 2009 is available on the DNR website.
For only the second time on record, there were no firearm-related fatalities.
Here is the FINAL reminder for hunters who want to hunt bear and spring turkey in 2011: The deadline to apply for permits is December 10. Applications postmarked after the deadline or filled out incorrectly will not be in the drawings.
Once the 2010-11 deer seasons close, researchers will begin efforts to address questions regarding the role of predators on deer populations, fawn production, and buck harvest. They seek volunteers to assist in these efforts, and people interested should visit the White-tailed Deer Research Projects page on the DNR website.
According to the Hayward Power Sports report, the majority of ATV trails are open year-around in Sawyer County and the snowmobile trails never close. There is about six inches of snow on the ground and lakes are making ice. For now, use common sense – the lakes are not yet staked (so stay off of them) and the groomer are not yet on the trails, so you could find raised gates and fallen trees. The goal is to have lake trails staked and groomers running by Christmas.
The Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau trail report says some ATV trails close at certain times, though most are open year-around. Visit the website for more information, or contact Sawyer County forest administrator Greg Peterson at (715) 634-6728.
The Northwest Relic Riders Vintage Snowmobile Club is holding a meeting Dec. 18 at Riverbend Family Restaurant in Trego. The meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. For more information, visit the club’s website.
Upcoming Events
Through Dec. 8: Muzzleloader deer season.
Nov. 29: Late archery deer season opened.
Nov. 30: Seasons Closed: Muskie; Turtle.
Dec. 1: Lake Superior Lake trout season opened.
Dec. 9-12: Antlerless-only gun hunt in herd control and CWD units.
Dec. 10: Application Deadline: Spring turkey; Bear.
Dec. 11: Canada goose season closes in north exterior zones.
Dec. 18: Northwest Relic Riders Vintage Snowmobile Club Casey Loop Enduro/club meeting.
Dec. 31: Seasons Close: Pheasant; Hungarian partridge; Bobcat hunting/trapping; Fisher trapping; Frog.
For more information on area events and activities, see the Calendar of Events, visit Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau, or call 1-800-724-2992.
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Winter might not start “officially” until December 21, but it has arrived in the north woods. This week’s forecast indicates cold nights – good for making ice – and generally low highs, with a few chances for snow.
Pat at Happy Hooker thinks there could be good ice for fishing by next week.
“This is the time to use common sense and extreme caution,” says Pat. “There are already several incidences of breakthroughs. If you go, go with a buddy, and spud your way out – the ice honeycombed due to the early freeze-over followed by rain. Be smart, be safe, and be patient.”
Nelson at Hayward Bait says anglers are having some success on the Chippewa Flowage, Nelson, and the Eau Claire lakes.
“Ice thickness is about four inches, primarily close to shore, but it varies from lake to lake, so USE CAUTION.”
Al at Pastika’s says anglers are starting to fish the back bays, with most anglers targeting walleye and northern pike.
“If the weather pattern holds we could be fishing the big lakes by mid-week or the weekend.”
DNR fisheries biologist Skip Sommerfeldt says ice thickness is unpredictable on Upper Chippewa Basin lakes.
“I checked the ice thickness at several spots on Butternut Lake in the week and found it to be real variable. A week ago, there was still an open-water area in the middle and thickness ranged up to more than three inches near shore in a couple spots. It appeared to be much thinner out away from shore.”
In the past week, Hayward area registration stations (Shooting Star, Hillman’s Store, Hayward Bait) registered 20 antlerless deer and 15 bucks for muzzleloader season, including one big eight-point, and two bucks for late archery season.
Muzzleloader deer season runs through Dec. 8, while late archery season runs through Jan. 9.
A statewide antlerless-only gun deer hunt runs Dec. 9-12, and tagging rules depend on the DMU type. Check the rules carefully for the deer management unit (DMU) you hunt.
Regular units require a unit-specific antlerless tag (if available) costing $12 for residents and $20 for nonresidents. Herd control units require a herd control antlerless tag available for $2 each from all license sales agents.
Reminder: The blaze-orange clothing requirement is in effect when any gun deer season is in progress.
The DNR reports a preliminary total for Wisconsin’s regular nine-day gun deer season of 218,144 deer, an 11 percent increase from 2009. Hunters registered 102,006 bucks (17-percent increase) and 116,138 antlerless deer (nearly seven- percent increase.) License sales totaled 621,094 at the close of the season.
The DNR expects harvest numbers to change before publishing the final report in late winter, and the preliminary number does not include the archery seasons, October antlerless hunt, muzzleloader season, and the December antlerless gun hunt. County-by-county harvest by region with comparison to 2009 is available on the DNR website.
For only the second time on record, there were no firearm-related fatalities.
Here is the FINAL reminder for hunters who want to hunt bear and spring turkey in 2011: The deadline to apply for permits is December 10. Applications postmarked after the deadline or filled out incorrectly will not be in the drawings.
Once the 2010-11 deer seasons close, researchers will begin efforts to address questions regarding the role of predators on deer populations, fawn production, and buck harvest. They seek volunteers to assist in these efforts, and people interested should visit the White-tailed Deer Research Projects page on the DNR website.
According to the Hayward Power Sports report, the majority of ATV trails are open year-around in Sawyer County and the snowmobile trails never close. There is about six inches of snow on the ground and lakes are making ice. For now, use common sense – the lakes are not yet staked (so stay off of them) and the groomer are not yet on the trails, so you could find raised gates and fallen trees. The goal is to have lake trails staked and groomers running by Christmas.
The Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau trail report says some ATV trails close at certain times, though most are open year-around. Visit the website for more information, or contact Sawyer County forest administrator Greg Peterson at (715) 634-6728.
The Northwest Relic Riders Vintage Snowmobile Club is holding a meeting Dec. 18 at Riverbend Family Restaurant in Trego. The meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. For more information, visit the club’s website.
Upcoming Events
Through Dec. 8: Muzzleloader deer season.
Nov. 29: Late archery deer season opened.
Nov. 30: Seasons Closed: Muskie; Turtle.
Dec. 1: Lake Superior Lake trout season opened.
Dec. 9-12: Antlerless-only gun hunt in herd control and CWD units.
Dec. 10: Application Deadline: Spring turkey; Bear.
Dec. 11: Canada goose season closes in north exterior zones.
Dec. 18: Northwest Relic Riders Vintage Snowmobile Club Casey Loop Enduro/club meeting.
Dec. 31: Seasons Close: Pheasant; Hungarian partridge; Bobcat hunting/trapping; Fisher trapping; Frog.
For more information on area events and activities, see the Calendar of Events, visit Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau, or call 1-800-724-2992.