Summer scouting, setting up or tweaking stand sites, and target practice are all important, and taking an inventory of gear so you can pick up anything you might need helps ensure you’re ready to hunt whenever you decide to go.
The early teal, early goose, snipe, common gallinule and mourning dove seasons all open Sept. 1. Black bear (no dogs) begins Sept. 9 for those who drew tags, and the bow deer and wild turkey seasons begin Sept. 12.
Bonus turkey tags are now on sale, though none were available for the northernmost three zones. Cost is $10 for residents, $15 for nonresidents. You’ll need to have a license that allows fall turkey hunting prior to purchasing a bonus permit. If you didn’t purchase a spring turkey license, you’ll also need a state turkey stamp.
In addition, bonus antlerless deer permits went on sale this week. See what’s available yet at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/permits/bonusavailability.html.
On the fishing scene, outstanding Lake Michigan salmon, steelhead and brown and lake trout action continues. Many Great Lakes anglers say it’s been the most consistent summer they’ve ever experienced.
Green Bay continues to produce amazing diversity, from salmon and trout to bass, perch, walleyes and pike.
Due to training, counter service at all DNR service centers, the statewide call center and email service will not be available next Wednesday and Thursday. The dates were selected because of past lowest license sales and phone call volume during that time of year.
The DNR Tipline, Emergency Spills line and Wisconsin Emergency Management hotline will continue to be answered during this time, and the website will still be operational at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/. Licenses can still be purchased via https://gowild.wi.gov/.
Counter services, the call center and email responses will resume normal business hours on Friday, Aug. 28.
Avian influenza, sometimes simply called “the bird flu,” remains an ongoing concern for ducks and many other migrating aquatic birds.
If you suspect a sick or found-dead bird, don’t touch it, and keep dogs away from them. Once hunting seasons open, It’s a good idea to wear rubber gloves when handling game, and always wash hands and equipment thoroughly after field-dressing.
The current strain of bird flu has not been shown to pose a food safety risk. However, hunters should cook harvested birds to an internal temperature of 165°F.
A study funded by a multistate conservation grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies found that 76 percent of the public approves of legal hunting and shooting sports, a five percent decrease from a 2021 survey.
The study is based on a scientific, probability-based multimodal survey of U.S. residents aged 18 and older, ensuring a representative sample of the population.
Approval of legal hunting is higher among rural residents, males, and Midwest Region residents than among U.S. residents overall.
The Wisconsin Waterfowl Hunters Expo is being held Aug. 21-22 at the Sunnyview Expo Center in Oshkosh. Attendees can try and buy the latest in outdoor products and talk with industry experts, habitat managers and waterfowl scientists. The event is family and dog-friendly.
The Waterfowl Expo is also the home of the state waterfowl, turkey and pheasant stamp competition, as well as the state duck and goose calling contests. Learn more at https://waterfowlhuntersexpo.com/.
Lake Michigan water levels are six inches higher than they were last August, but down an inch in the past month. As of Aug. 14, it was estimated that the lake’s level was about an inch above the 100-year average and 33 inches above than the record 1964 low. However, it was down 32 inches from the record August, 2020 high.
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