When snow falls and when ice forms, winter interests will intensify. Other outdoor pleasures will continue regardless of precipitation and temperature.
Some seasons will soon conclude, including hunting ruffed grouse, ending Dec. 31.
Those on standby — skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice skating, ice fishing and snow tracking — can be planned for in the weeks ahead.
Some ice anglers have been brave or bold enough, taken the right precautions, and possibly traveled some distance, and are already enjoying one winter activity that makes Wisconsin “Wisconsin”.
Preparation is what drove Buddy Hynek, formerly of La Crosse, to get accustomed to ice fishing more southern waters in the Driftless area. Some might call Hynek, now in Lone Rock, overtly cautious for driving back to La Crosse’s ice fishing where ice forms sooner and his favorite fishing holes are better known to him.
When small lakes and Wisconsin River backwaters began to seal up, he started forgoing the two-hour drive northwest and added that time to his local outings.
“I get out as much as I can,” he said last weekend. “At least twice a week; this week it’s been four times.”
Right now, waxworms are used to entice bluegills, black crappies and perch in Helena Marsh, and satisfy Hynek’s craving and hunger. The same ice will provide northern pike and largemouth bass to those using tip-ups.
A few areas on the Madison lakes (bays), state parks in Iowa and Lafayette counties, and along the Wisconsin River have become Swiss cheese-like from the holes cut by anglers.
And then there is a catch and release trout season opening Jan. 5, 2019.
One gun deer season and the extended archery season will draw a few hunters, with the Holiday hunt beginning Dec. 24 in some counties including Crawford, Vernon, Richland, Sauk, Columbia, Dane and Jefferson in southern Wisconsin. Grant, Iowa, Lafayette, Green and Rock counties are not participating in that nine-day season this year. Check the Deer Hunting Regulations for a complete listing of counties.
Deer hunters near Sauk Count may want to consider donating a deer to the food pantry associated with 6:8, located in Sauk City. Young and otherwise inexperienced hunters will be able to learn venison processing, too. Contact John at 608.658.4700 for more details.
Called a Holiday pheasant hunt, the Department of Natural Resources is releasing extra birds on several southern Wisconsin public hunting areas as a means of providing some better bird hunting for those home for the holidays.
In addition to earlier hunts, deer registrations for the muzzleloader season (6,896 deer), antlerless season (9,319 deer) and continuing archery (37.704) and bow (43,622 deer) have been posted on the DNR Web site.
Upcoming season closures include turkey (Jan. 6), squirrel (Jan. 31), pheasant (Jan. 6), archery and crossbow (Jan. 6) and rabbit (Feb. 28).
The DNR deer predator study is poised to begin netting deer as soon as feeding pressure bring deer into drop netting areas.
Bird feeding activity is minimal except for early and late in the day, but still enough to observe antics of bullies and those waiting their turns at feeders.
Don’t give up on winter. Take advantage of lack of snow to check for early antler drops.
— Jerry Davis is an Argyle native and a freelance writer who lives in Barneveld. He can be reached at sivadjam@mhtc.net or at 608-924-1112.
