Hayward Lakes Sherry
12-06-2011, 03:09 PM
December 5, 2011
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Winter has definitely arrived in the north woods. We have six inches of snow on the ground (more or less) and this week’s forecast calls for temperatures ranging from single-digit lows to some highs reaching just into the 30s. If we can avoid snow for the week – which at this time looks probable – lake ice could set up quickly and soon provide good ice fishing conditions.
In the past week, Hayward area registration stations (Shooting Star, Hillman’s Store, and Hayward Bait) registered 15 antlerless and 12 bucks for muzzleloader season, including one very nice eight-point. Bowhunters registered three antlerless deer, but not one buck.
Muzzleloader deer season runs through Wednesday Dec. 7, the statewide antlerless only deer season begins Thursday Dec. 8 and runs through Sunday Dec. 11, and archery season runs through January 8, 2012. Archery hunters – actually all hunters (see regs for exceptions) – must meet the blaze orange requirements during any open gun deer season.
If you plan to hunt the antlerless only deer season, please note a typo in last week’s column (a self-inflicted error – no one to blame but myself!) stated an incorrect opening day date. The season runs Dec. 8-11.
Hunters hunting DMU 13 for the antlerless season must have a Unit 13-specific antlerless tag. As of Monday afternoon, there were more than 2,600 remaining antlerless tags. Permits cost $12 for residents, $20 for nonresidents, and $5 for 10-11 year olds. Herd control tags are NOT valid in Unit 13. Hunters hunting herd control units can use the antlerless tag included with their license and buy additional tags for $2 each.
The demand remains for donations to the Venison Donation Program. It costs a hunter nothing to donate to the program – simply register the deer and drop it off at the processor. Call ahead to verify business hours and to make sure the processor has space available for your deer.
If you hunt any or all of the remaining deer seasons, please report your observations to the DNR Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey. Your input provides valuable information to biologists and offers a human element to the season.
A DNR phone survey of more than 600 deer registration stations showed a preliminary harvest of 226,260 for the nine-day gun deer hunting season, including 102,837 bucks and 123,423 antlerless. This is an increase of 3.6 percent from 2010, but wildlife officials expect the number to change before the DNR releases its final report in late winter. A table of county harvests broken down by DNR region is available on the DNR website.
The DNR now considers a shooting incident currently under investigation as a deer hunting incident, bringing the total to seven incidents for gun deer season. With this change, the 2011 season, once tied with another year as the second safest season in Wisconsin’s recorded history, moves to third place. The safest season was in 2004 with four incidents, two of them fatalities, and the second safest, 2007, had six incidents, three of them fatalities.
In addition to deer hunting, numerous other hunting and trapping seasons are in progress in the north woods. Ruffed Grouse in Zone A and squirrel seasons run through January 31, 2012; fox and raccoon seasons runs through February 15, 2012; and cottontail rabbit season is open through February 29, 2012. Coyote hunting season is continuous, though it closes in wolf management zones during the muzzleloader and December antlerless only deer seasons. Bobcat season Period 1 runs through December 25, and Period 2 runs December 26 through January 31, 2012. Before hunting or trapping any species, check the small game and furbearer regulations for specific restrictions, and necessary licenses and permits.
Here is your final reminder for the Dec. 10 application deadline for 2012 spring turkey and bear hunting permits. Permits applications cost $3 each and you can purchase them through DNR service centers, authorized license agents, the Online Licensing Center, or by calling toll-free 1-877-945-4236. Fill out the forms correctly and get them in on time – mess up either one and the DNR will reject your application.
“There has not been much fishing action for some time now,” says Pat at Happy Hooker, “but the ice is starting to get good and if the forecast holds we might have ‘safe enough’ ice for ice fishing by this weekend. For deer season, Mike Bloomquist of Cable won our Big Buck contest with a nice 10 pointer. Out of the 45 entries, we had only three bucks.”
The American Birkebeiner website’s trail report says as of Monday the “OO” loops are rolled and more rolling is taking place. Deer seasons continue through this weekend – wear bright-colored clothing if you are on the trails!
Upcoming Events
Nov. 30: Seasons Closed: Muskellunge; Turtle.
Dec. 1: Lake Superior lake trout season opens.
Dec. 7: Muzzleloader deer season closes.
Dec. 8-11: Antlerless-only firearms hunt statewide (see regs for exceptions and details).
Dec. 9: Canada goose season closes in north exterior zones.
Dec. 10: Application deadline: Spring turkey; bear.
Dec. 26: Season Opens: Period 2 bobcat hunting/trapping north of Hwy. 64.
Dec. 31: Seasons Close: Pheasant; Fall turkey; Hungarian partridge; Bobcat; Fisher; Frog.
Feb. 23-26: American Birkebeiner; Birkie and Kortelopet registrations closed. (715-634-5025).
For more information on area events and activities, visit the Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau website, view its Calendar of Events, or call 1-800-724-2992.
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman
Winter has definitely arrived in the north woods. We have six inches of snow on the ground (more or less) and this week’s forecast calls for temperatures ranging from single-digit lows to some highs reaching just into the 30s. If we can avoid snow for the week – which at this time looks probable – lake ice could set up quickly and soon provide good ice fishing conditions.
In the past week, Hayward area registration stations (Shooting Star, Hillman’s Store, and Hayward Bait) registered 15 antlerless and 12 bucks for muzzleloader season, including one very nice eight-point. Bowhunters registered three antlerless deer, but not one buck.
Muzzleloader deer season runs through Wednesday Dec. 7, the statewide antlerless only deer season begins Thursday Dec. 8 and runs through Sunday Dec. 11, and archery season runs through January 8, 2012. Archery hunters – actually all hunters (see regs for exceptions) – must meet the blaze orange requirements during any open gun deer season.
If you plan to hunt the antlerless only deer season, please note a typo in last week’s column (a self-inflicted error – no one to blame but myself!) stated an incorrect opening day date. The season runs Dec. 8-11.
Hunters hunting DMU 13 for the antlerless season must have a Unit 13-specific antlerless tag. As of Monday afternoon, there were more than 2,600 remaining antlerless tags. Permits cost $12 for residents, $20 for nonresidents, and $5 for 10-11 year olds. Herd control tags are NOT valid in Unit 13. Hunters hunting herd control units can use the antlerless tag included with their license and buy additional tags for $2 each.
The demand remains for donations to the Venison Donation Program. It costs a hunter nothing to donate to the program – simply register the deer and drop it off at the processor. Call ahead to verify business hours and to make sure the processor has space available for your deer.
If you hunt any or all of the remaining deer seasons, please report your observations to the DNR Deer Hunter Wildlife Survey. Your input provides valuable information to biologists and offers a human element to the season.
A DNR phone survey of more than 600 deer registration stations showed a preliminary harvest of 226,260 for the nine-day gun deer hunting season, including 102,837 bucks and 123,423 antlerless. This is an increase of 3.6 percent from 2010, but wildlife officials expect the number to change before the DNR releases its final report in late winter. A table of county harvests broken down by DNR region is available on the DNR website.
The DNR now considers a shooting incident currently under investigation as a deer hunting incident, bringing the total to seven incidents for gun deer season. With this change, the 2011 season, once tied with another year as the second safest season in Wisconsin’s recorded history, moves to third place. The safest season was in 2004 with four incidents, two of them fatalities, and the second safest, 2007, had six incidents, three of them fatalities.
In addition to deer hunting, numerous other hunting and trapping seasons are in progress in the north woods. Ruffed Grouse in Zone A and squirrel seasons run through January 31, 2012; fox and raccoon seasons runs through February 15, 2012; and cottontail rabbit season is open through February 29, 2012. Coyote hunting season is continuous, though it closes in wolf management zones during the muzzleloader and December antlerless only deer seasons. Bobcat season Period 1 runs through December 25, and Period 2 runs December 26 through January 31, 2012. Before hunting or trapping any species, check the small game and furbearer regulations for specific restrictions, and necessary licenses and permits.
Here is your final reminder for the Dec. 10 application deadline for 2012 spring turkey and bear hunting permits. Permits applications cost $3 each and you can purchase them through DNR service centers, authorized license agents, the Online Licensing Center, or by calling toll-free 1-877-945-4236. Fill out the forms correctly and get them in on time – mess up either one and the DNR will reject your application.
“There has not been much fishing action for some time now,” says Pat at Happy Hooker, “but the ice is starting to get good and if the forecast holds we might have ‘safe enough’ ice for ice fishing by this weekend. For deer season, Mike Bloomquist of Cable won our Big Buck contest with a nice 10 pointer. Out of the 45 entries, we had only three bucks.”
The American Birkebeiner website’s trail report says as of Monday the “OO” loops are rolled and more rolling is taking place. Deer seasons continue through this weekend – wear bright-colored clothing if you are on the trails!
Upcoming Events
Nov. 30: Seasons Closed: Muskellunge; Turtle.
Dec. 1: Lake Superior lake trout season opens.
Dec. 7: Muzzleloader deer season closes.
Dec. 8-11: Antlerless-only firearms hunt statewide (see regs for exceptions and details).
Dec. 9: Canada goose season closes in north exterior zones.
Dec. 10: Application deadline: Spring turkey; bear.
Dec. 26: Season Opens: Period 2 bobcat hunting/trapping north of Hwy. 64.
Dec. 31: Seasons Close: Pheasant; Fall turkey; Hungarian partridge; Bobcat; Fisher; Frog.
Feb. 23-26: American Birkebeiner; Birkie and Kortelopet registrations closed. (715-634-5025).
For more information on area events and activities, visit the Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau website, view its Calendar of Events, or call 1-800-724-2992.