November 24, 2008
Hayward Lakes Area Outdoor Report
Steve Suman

How quickly things change! One week ago, boat anglers were hitting their favorite fall spots. Many were searching for trophy muskies, casting big plastics, trolling large stick and crank baits, and dragging live suckers. Walleye anglers fished with fatheads and walleye suckers, or worked jig/minnow rigs. Crappie anglers dangled crappie minnows and plastics near cribs and brush, and tried to locate fish suspended in deeper water.
Suddenly this past weekend, many anglers were fishing their favorite spots on foot! The switch from open water fishing to ice fishing seemed to happen almost overnight. Of course, it doesn’t take long when nighttime temperatures dip to zero or below, and daytime temperatures hold to less than 30 degrees.
At Pastika’s, Al said bait sales are brisk, as many anglers are anxious to hit first ice. Though there are three to five inches of good ice in some areas, he cautions anglers to be extremely cautious at this time.
Terry at Hayward Bait said he was on the road this week and saw anglers ice fishing as far south as Bloomer. Some nice catches of walleyes and perch are being made, he said, but also advises angler to be very cautious.
First-ice fishing can be outstanding, and anglers caught a number of eight-pound walleyes in the past few days, but not one of those fish is worth risking life and limb. North woods ice fishing season is a long one, so be careful, use common sense – and try to stick around to enjoy all of it.
Early archery deer season ended November 20, and last week Hayward’s two big game registration stations (Shooting Star Archery, Hillman’s Store) registered 12 antlerless deer and 13 bucks. Dennis Meyer at Shooting Star says his early season deer registrations were down 40 percent compared to past years.
Fall turkey season also ended November 20, and neither station registered a turkey during the season’s final week.
Deer hunters heading to their stands early Saturday morning for the start of Wisconsin’s nine-day gun deer season were welcomed by clear skies and frigid temps.
At noon Sunday, Shooting Star’s registrations were down about 10 percent compared to last year. Rose at Hillman’s said registrations were up slightly Saturday and down by a greater margin Sunday.
Steve at Whitetail Country Meats said total deer donations (through early archery, early antlerless gun season, and the first two days of the nine-day gun season) are down significantly from last year. However, deer hunting in some manner – late archery, muzzleloader, and December antlerless season – continues into January, and hopefully deer donations will increase.
In other hunting news, the DNR released preliminary numbers for the 2008 hunting season show bear hunters harvested more than 2,900 black bears during the season. Hunters registered 220 bears in Sawyer County, second highest in the state.
Bear hunting continues to be very popular, and last season 81,453 people applied for either a harvest permit or preference point. Based on where you want to hunt, it now takes up to ten preference points to draw a harvest permit.
That could soon change, however.
According to results from a recent study, the state’s bear population is twice as large as previously believed. With the study taken into consideration, recommendations for permit numbers for the 2009 bear hunting season are double those of 2008. The Natural Resources Board will approve final permit numbers at their meeting in late January.
Hunters interested in applying for a bear permit or preference point are reminded the application deadline for the 2009 season is December 10. This is also the deadline to apply for spring turkey permits.

Upcoming Events
Through Dec. 31: Illegal to shine for wild animals between 10 p.m.-7 a.m.
Nov. 22-30: Regular gun deer season.
Nov. 25: Northern zone waterfowl season closes.
Nov. 30: Seasons Close: Gun deer; Muskie; Turtle.
Dec. 1: Seasons Open: Muzzleloader deer; Archery deer.
Dec. 10: Application Deadline: Spring turkey; Bear.
Dec. 10: Seasons Close: Muzzleloader deer; Bobwhite quail.
Dec. 11-14: Statewide antlerless deer hunt (see regulations.)
Dec. 31: Seasons Close: Pheasant; Partridge; Bobcat; Fisher; Frog.
Jan. 4: Late archery deer season closes.
Jan. 18: Crow season opens, through March 20.
Jan. 31: Season close: Squirrel; Raccoon; Ruffed grouse (northern zone.)

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.