Madison – September sees the start of multiple hunting seasons on six different dates, starting on September 1, when the mourning dove, early teal and early goose seasons open. The seasons for snipe, snipe and common gallinule also begin on this day.
Black bear season opens on Wednesday, September 4, and in some zones bait hunters will be the first to arrive this year. Check the regulations for a complete overview of the season framework in the different zones.
Saturday, September 14 is an critical day for the fall hunting seasons. This is the starting date for cottontail rabbit (Northern Zone), archery and crossbow deer, sage grouse (Zone A), squirrels and turkeys. September 14 is also the day of hunting for teenage waterfowl.
The regular state goose season begins on Monday, September 16, while the North Zone duck season begins on Saturday, September 21 with the woodcock season. Duck season in the South Zone begins on Saturday, September 28
A list of public areas available for hunting is available at DNR website for public areas. The Interactive game Fields and forest areas Bird hunting toolalso on the DNR website, provides information on managed dove fields as well as sage grouse and woodcock hunting habitat.
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The hook-and-line sturgeon season runs from September 7 to 30
Madison – The 2024 lake sturgeon hooking season will be open in certain waters from September 7-30 to all anglers with a 2024 fishing license and a sturgeon tag.
A sturgeon tag is not required if all fish are to be released. Each year, anglers are allowed one sturgeon 60 inches or longer. Anyone keeping sturgeon must confirm their tag immediately after harvesting and before moving the fish. All sturgeon harvested must be registered at a designated registration station. Most stations are not open 24 hours a day, so anglers must be prepared to keep fish under ice.
Some sturgeon may have a tag near their back. If a tagged sturgeon is caught, anglers are asked to contact their local DNR fisheries biologist and provide the following information: tag number and color, date, length of the fish and location of the catch.
DNR fisheries biologists have seen abundance of juvenile lake sturgeon in the lower Chippewa River near Eau Claire, signaling that this population will persist for many generations. Legal-size lake sturgeon inhabit all six reservoirs in the lower Chippewa River. Yellow Lake in Burnett County continues to produce trophy sturgeon fishing, with many fish ranging in size from 40 to 60 inches and a few exceeding 70 inches. Anglers should keep an eye out for yellow “hanging” tags on the dorsal fin of sturgeon in Yellow Lake. These tags, often covered in algae, contain a five-digit number that anglers should report to DNR fisheries biologist Craig Roberts at [email protected] or (715) 416-0351.
The lower Menominee River is expected to provide good catch-and-release fishing, and the open sections of the upper Menominee River will also have plenty of fish available, with a few sturgeon reaching the 60-inch limit.
Kettle Moraine Lake Boat Dock in the National Forest closed for improvements
Cascade, Wisconsin – The DNR has temporarily closed the Long Lake parking lot and boat launch at the Long Lake Recreation Area in the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Northern Unit at N3450 Division Road in Cascade.
The closure will begin on Tuesday, September 3, and work is expected to continue through the winter. During construction of the parking lot and boat launch, boat launching will not be permitted. This is the only boat launch on the lake. The works will include the construction of longer parking aprons, a floating pier and an improved asphalt and concrete driveway to the launching area. The slope of the driveway is also adjusted to meet accessibility requirements.
Monroe County is hosting two CWD summits: September 5 in Sparta and October 12 in Tomah
Sparta, Wisconsin – Monroe County will host two CWD summits this fall, with the first meeting taking place on September 5 at the Sparta Free Library, 124 West Main Street, from 4:00-6:30 p.m. The evening will include presentations from DNR biologists, landowners and hunters discussing the history and current status of CWD in the state.
The upcoming deer season is also under discussion. The DNR will also show how they remove the deer’s lymph nodes for testing.
The second CWD Summit will be held Oct. 12 at the Tomah Fairgrounds, with a time yet to be determined.
Both summits are sponsored by the Monroe County CWD Task Force, Monroe County CDAC, the Coulee National Deer Association, the DNR and Fort McCoy.
