Madison — The DNR Northeast Regional Fish Management Team will hold six meetings to share topics related to fishing in Green Bay and inland waters in northeastern Wisconsin. The sessions will be held in person and via Zoom from 6 to 8 p.m. over the next few months, giving the public a chance to meet with their local DNR fish management team.
More information about these meetings, including Zoom information, can be found on the DNR meetings and hearings calendar on the agency’s website.
The series will begin Jan. 29 with a discussion on landlocked trout and lake management in Florence and Forest counties, led by DNR fish biologist Greg Matzke in Florence at the Wild Rivers Interpretive Center.
Green Bay Walleye and Muskie Management will be held Feb. 7 at the Green Bay DNR office on Shawano Avenue and will be led by DNR Fish Biologist Jason Breeggemann.
On Feb. 12, DNR fish biologist Tammie Paoli will review management of pike and northern perch in Green Bay conducted by the Peshtigo office.
DNR fish biologist Chip Long will give a lecture on landlocked trout management in Marinette and Oconto counties on Feb. 19, also from the DNR office in Peshtigo.
The Green Bay DNR office on Shawano Avenue will be the site of two final meetings — on Feb. 26 on trout habitat management with Jonathan Pyatskovit, DNR fish habitat specialist, and on March 4 on an update on the Green Bay and Fox River habitat restoration project with Brie Kupsky, DNR Green Bay program coordinator.
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Upper Mississippi Refuge Hosts Ice Fishing Party for Kids
Winona, Minnesota — The annual Kids Ice Fishing Event, co-hosted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Friends of the Refuge Headwaters, will be held at the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge on Saturday, January 27 from 10:00 a.m. to noon. This year’s event, which will celebrate the shelter’s 100th anniversary, will be headquartered at McNally Boat Landing in Winona.
Kids ages 6 to 13 are invited to the free event. Kids will be paired with mentors who will assist them. Bait, tackle, rods and reels will be available for those who don’t have their own.
For more information, contact Wendy Woyczik at [email protected] or call (507) 494-6229 or visit the refuge website.
DNR asks public for assist locating black bear dens this winter
Madison — DNR black bear researchers are asking citizens to report the location of any dens this winter to assist with bear breeding research. There is a particular need for reports of den locations in Clark, Taylor, Wood, St. Croix, Pierce, Buffalo and Oneida counties.
The Black Bear Litter and Diet Survey, now in its third year, will assist generate updated estimates of black bear reproductive rates in each of the state’s bear management zones. These updates will improve the accuracy of population models used to manage black bears. Scientists are also studying the relationship between human food consumption and reproduction, as diet can affect cub survival rates and litter size.
The burrows tend to become noisier when the adolescent are born in January, making them easier to locate. Many people discover the burrows by listening for the dull squeaks, grunts, or sucking sounds while in the woods.
“Public reporting is essential to this project,” said Dr. Jennifer Price Tack, a enormous carnivore and elk researcher at the DNR. “Reporting burrows helps us meet sample size requirements for our study and increases the accuracy of the population model.”
Useful information to provide includes: GPS coordinates of the den site; a photo of the den site (from a distance and showing surroundings); a description of the site and surrounding area, including landmarks; and any information about the bear(s) and activity near the site.
Once the reports are submitted, the team will work with reporters and landowners to visit sites and determine whether burrows are safe and sound, accessible, and lively before deciding whether to conduct a survey. The survey team may not be able to visit every reported burrow location this season.
A summary of public comments on the Central Sand Hills Regional Plan is available
Madison — The DNR has released a summary of public comments received on the Central Sand Hills Regional Plan.
The more than 60 properties targeted by the DNR for the plan include: Devil’s Lake and Hartman Creek state parks; MacKenzie Center; Mecan River, Caves Creek and Pine River fisheries areas; White River Marsh, Grand River Marsh and Lawrence Creek wildlife areas; and Lunch Creek Wetlands, Observatory Hill and Plainfield Tunnel Channel Lakes natural areas.
The DNR will employ public comment to develop a draft Central Sand Hills Master Plan that will include management goals for each property, including changes to the project boundaries.
Any questions regarding the Comment Summary or the Central Sand Hills General Planning process may be directed to: John Pohlman, DNR Property Planner, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707, or by email at [email protected] or by telephone at (608) 264-6263.
Wisconsin BHA Chapter Icebreaker includes a fishing contest on February 3rd on Lake Koshkonong
Green Bay, Wisconsin – The Wisconsin Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers will host the North Country Icebreaker on Saturday, February 3rd at Lake Koshkonong. The event includes an ice fishing tournament at the Vinnie Ha Ha boathouse, a day of ice fishing fun, and instructional demonstrations, vendors and entertainment, followed by a banquet at Koshkonong Mounds.
Buy tickets for www.backcountryhunters.org. For more information, contact Alec Bekkers at (404) 372-2386 or [email protected].
