Woodcock have already left many areas and grouse are expected to form flocks soon and move south as cold weather moves in. In the Park Falls, Brule, Minocqua, Eagle River and Antigo areas, the bow hunt is going well. Skims of ice are forming on some northern lakes at night but days have been warm causing low areas to remain soggy and create potential vehicle access problems for hunters. The cold mornings haven't stopped anglers however, and musky action remains good around Eagle River with several 30-pound fish taken recently. Shawano area waterfowl hunters are finding diving ducks on all area lakes and report that the best hunting is in the early morning hours.
Deer are very active in the area and car-deer accidents are increasing.
Coho salmon and brown trout were providing good action on flies on the Root River in Racine County, below the weir and from Quarry Lake upstream to the dam. Milwaukee also reports good brown trout activity at most access points in the Milwaukee Harbor with Thundersticks and spawn sacs the best baits. Coho and chinook as well as brown trout are in the Port Washington Harbor at the power plant discharge and in Sauk Creek where spawn sacs and yarn flies were producing the best results. In the south, fishing remains good in many areas as anticipation for the upcoming fall hunt continues to grow. Crappies were biting on Park Lake in Columbia County and Walleye were hitting on Beaver Dam Lake.