November 30, 2009
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman

Unseasonably mild weather continued through Wisconsin’s nine-day gun deer season, providing comfortable hunting conditions but offering nothing in the way of positive enhancement for hunting success.
During the gun deer season, Hayward area registrations stations (Shooting Star, Hillman’s Store, Hayward Bait) recorded 1155 deer, including 632 antlerless deer and 523 bucks. Dennis at Shooting Star says he registered numerous bucks that will green score at least 130 or more points, and Bob at Hayward Bait registered a very nice 11-point buck.
Prior to the season, DNR reports indicated herd numbers in most Hayward area deer management units were at or near their goals, and biologists expected to see a reduced harvest. The harvest met their expectations, with registrations at in-town Hayward stations down approximately 28 percent compared to last year.
“In terms of weather – fog, rain, and warm – this was one of the worst seasons,” says DNR Northern Region wildlife supervisor Ken Jonas. “Deer are in their winter coats, and with warm temperatures they revert to nocturnal activity. If you’re stand hunting and the deer aren’t moving, you are up a creek.
“Deer numbers are down in local units, at the desired goals, and this is about the type of season (in terms of harvest) we expect with herd numbers at goal.”
Hunters still have an opportunity to put venison in their freezer, however. Muzzleloader season runs Nov. 30 through Dec. 9, late archery season is open Nov. 30 through January 3, and there is a statewide antlerless-only hunt Dec. 10-13 for herd control units and those with remaining antlerless tags.
Hunters interested in harvesting antlerless deer in Regular units must purchase a unit-specific antlerless deer tag ($12 resident, $20 nonresident.) You can check the current availability of antlerless tags on the DNR website or by calling a DNR service center. As of Monday morning Nov. 30, remaining antlerless tags in local units were available as follows: Unit 9 - 1357; Unit 12 - 2010; Unit 13 - 0; Unit 14 - 4304; Unit 17 - 2188; Unit 18 - 280; Unit 19 - 2994.)
Know the rules for the unit you hunt and have the correct tags.
Looking ahead to next year’s deer season, the DNR is including a 16-day gun deer hunt starting the Saturday before the Thanksgiving holiday as part of its 2010 deer season framework. They will present the proposal to the Natural Resources Board for consideration at the NRB’s Dec. 8 meeting in Madison.
Other elements of the proposal include:
• Archery season extending through all gun seasons and until the end of January in herd control units.
• A four-day October antlerless-only statewide muzzleloader hunt.
• A four-day October antlerless-only gun hunt in herd control units.
• A four-day youth hunt coinciding with the October antlerless hunt.
• A seven-day statewide December muzzleloader hunt.
• A four-day December antlerless-only gun hunt.
• A 10-day buck plus quota holiday hunt in farmland and central forest deer management units.
The complete proposal is available on the Natural Resources Board December meeting agenda on the DNR website.

****The application deadline for 2010 spring turkey permits and bear kill permits is Dec. 10. ****

As for fishing ...
“Walleye fishing continues to be good in deeper water,” says DNR fisheries biologist Frank Pratt, “and musky season was exceptionally late this year – right through deer season and to musky season’s close November 30.”
Pratt reminds Chippewa Flowage anglers that crappie and game fish seasons close December 1, though you can still target panfish.
“In spring 2010 we will vote on whether to open the Chippewa Flowage to ice fishing for everything except walleye. This is a good, long overdue idea, and the current walleye population is too low for more exploitation.”
According to Pat Jones at Happy Hooker, musky anglers were still fishing (based on daily calls for musky suckers), but he hopes anglers in the south have better luck with their extended season.
“Lake locals tell me they are not seeing any boats on the lakes – no walleye, crappie or any other kind of fishing.”
By the way, Jones is predicting December 18 as the start date for ice fishing.
There is currently only minor interest in fishing and this is the final report of the season for open water. Ice fishing reports will begin when ice reaches conditions generally considered “safe” for travel.

Upcoming Events
Nov. 30: Seasons Closed: Musky; Turtle.
Nov. 30 - Dec. 9: Muzzleloader deer season.
Nov. 30 - Jan. 3: Late archery deer season.
Dec. 1: Lake trout season on Lake Superior opened.
Dec. 10: Application Deadline: Spring turkey; Bear kill permit.
Dec. 10-13: Antlerless-only firearm hunt in specific units. (See regulations.)
Dec. 12: Canada goose season closes in the north exterior zones.
Dec. 31: Seasons Close: Pheasant; Hungarian partridge Bobcat hunting and trapping; Fisher trapping; Frog.
Through Dec. 31: Illegal to shine for wild animals between 10 p.m.-7 a.m.

For more information on area events and activities, see the Calendar of Events, visit Hayward Lakes Visitor and Convention Bureau, or call 1-800-724-2992.