Outdoor Report: Good weather means time to be outdoors
These are heady days. September is half gone and the pace quickens daily. The warmish weather of early week will drop to more temperate levels for the weekend. There is the splash of fall color now beginning; blood red leaf shows against the lush green. Nightime hours lengthen; daylight time at month’s end is nearly 90 minutes less than on the first. Change is in the air.
This weekend brings the Youth Waterfowl Hunt, a two-day hunt for ducks. It can be a big deal for kids as it should be. Wild rice is a key draw for birds and this year rice growth looks to be mixed but the key to early season success often comes down to this: Find rice and you’ll find ducks. Having noted that we have had reports of ducks scattered into many small ponds and potholes that now have water after years of low rainfall. With the mild weather ducks will not have moved out and hunting should be good.
Archers and grouse hunters had at it starting last week. Early season for both tends to be underwhelming in terms of success. Heavy vegetation continues to limit chances for grouse; a few weeks will improve things. Archers are seeing some deer but early season hunters tend to be patient and pass on smaller bucks.
Upland hunters can add woodcock to the list of legal game starting this Saturday.
Local birds are usually all that is available as migrants have not begun to move through. Again, as with grouse, heavy vegetation limits success.
And while much attention is on hunting fishing continues to appeal to many. The past week has been pretty good with walleyes, some panfish and bass active. Muskies have not really started in yet; cooler weather will spur that action. Walleyes are still taking crawlers on some lakes but on other water have begun to prefer minnows again. That trend will continue.
All in all with good weather at hand the weekend and upcoming week are looking pretty good for anyone who wants time outside.
The Outdoor Report is provided by the staff of Mel’s Trading Post, downtown Rhinelander.
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