Local Column 9-10-07

 River Currents

The older that I get, the more I find myself using some of the same “clichés” as my parents and grandparents used years ago. This got me thinking when I started writing today and my first sentence was going to be “What happened to the summer?” I think that I’ve heard that one before, haven’t you? Now it’s the second week of September and fall is just around the corner.

As I look back at this summer, we had high temperatures and drought conditions well into July and then the monsoons hit and our area and most of south-west Wisconsin got record setting rains. The record precipitation brought terrible flooding to many parts of western Wisconsin and the Federal government declared many local counties disaster areas. Last week, I talked about the terrible flooding in the Gay Mills area. Many of these people still need help if you happen to have any free time. The phone number at the Gay Mills Command Center is (608)-735-4862 for clean-up information.

The rains in July prevented much outdoor activity. I can usually tell the day’s weather on weekends and summer days by looking out my window and watching the canoes and kayaks floating down the Wisconsin River. Despite the record rains we received, the level of the Wisconsin River in the immediate area didn’t rise that much at all! You would think that we’d have high water and flooding, but that didn’t happen here. Most of the precipitation went farther west and down the Lower Wisconsin Riverway. There has to be significant rain in central and northern Wisconsin before the local water levels go up. There was some flooding and bank erosion on Lake Wisconsin, but nothing next to what happened in the Kickapoo Valley region.

The rains of August brought with them one of the worst mosquito invasions that I can remember. I’m used to “skeeters” living close to the water, but usually they attack around dusk just before dark. But, the past few weeks the bugs are out at noon in the bright sunshine. They’re everywhere and make doing anything outside impossible unless you cover yourself with repellent. I don’t like putting “bug dope” on, but it’s the only way to be outside. I feel sorry for my Lab, Bo, who has her nose covered by these pesky insects every time she’s outside for any length of time.

There are 55 species of mosquitoes in Wisconsin and the one that is causing the trouble is the floodwater mosquitoes, or Aedes vexans. “The adults lay their eggs near the edge of water or in low-lying areas where water will accumulate,” according to Phil Pellitteri, a UW-Madison entomologist. If the eggs stay dry, the eggs won’t hatch. But with the high water we experienced, eggs laid years ago (up to 4 years) will hatch. It looks like this batch of bugs will be around till the first frost of the fall.

If you’re out in a boat fishing and there’s a breeze the bugs aren’t too bad, but if you get in the wood the mosquitoes are unreal! This weekend is the opening of bow deer season and bow hunters beware. I know that scent elimination is very important to bow hunters, but prepare for hordes of mosquitoes. Check out protective clothing and repellants made especially for bow hunters and those who spend the fall in the woods.

The sturgeon season is progressing with many “short” fish being caught (less than the emergency 60 inch rule). There was a 60 inch female registered at K and D Bait in Sauk City. I talked to DNR Warden John Buss last Wednesday and he didn’t know of many legal sturgeons caught in the immediate area. The DNR wanted to reduce the sturgeon harvest because recently the harvest rate in prime areas has soared to between 25 and 35%. The DNR wants a harvest of 5% and the rules implemented this July will greatly reduce the catch and harvest. I haven’t seen any DNR statistics yet, but I guarantee the harvest will be greatly reduced.

The state recently came out with statistics indicating that there still are up to 2 million deer in Wisconsin. Despite the numerous special seasons, free tags, and the attempts to increase deer harvest statewide, we (hunters, the state) are losing the battle! We’ve spent millions of dollars trying to eliminate CWD and now that program is being down-sized! The DNR will test 10,000 deer this year, down from the 28,000 in 2006. There also will not be any deer donations in CWD zones. There is a program for donating venison outside the CWD area, but the many local food pantries that received thousands of pounds of meat are out of luck this year. It’s too bad because this was a highly successful program for those who are having trouble making ends meet!

Dove hunting will continue to improve as more and more crops get harvested. Farmers are starting to get back in their fields to harvest crops and this will improve local dove hunting. Doves will look for harvested grain fields of sunflowers, corn, and soybeans for feeding. There’s a good population of mourning doves in and around the Mazomanie and Lodi Public Hunting Grounds. There isn’t much competition yet and things will stay that way until the pheasant opener in the middle of October.

Deer numbers, like I mentioned before, are up (as usual) and this should be another very good year. I think the DNR is finding out that people can eat and shoot only so many deer. One or two deer is more than enough for most families these days. Many hunters tried to help the DNR in their request to shoot 2 does for every buck, but this even failed except in one location. The elimination of the deer donation locations in CWD zones will stop hunters from shooting extra deer for the needy. I shutter when I think what the deer regulations will be next year.

The influx of water in the past month has spread out the resident population of Canada Geese. There are many more potholes and sloughs that now hold water and give the geese more area for feeding and resting. The Lower Wisconsin River now has a year-round goose population with the milder winters we have had in the past decade. Despite the milder winters, I still feel sorry for the geese that stay here when the temperature is below zero and the snow is blowing. It’s amazing that they stay here!

Nationally, duck numbers are good this year. Some areas experienced drought like we did, but they never got the August rain. Most ducks that are harvested in Wisconsin are local ducks that are hatched here. We get some northern migration, but the majority of mallards, teal, and wood ducks are born and raised in the Badger state.

This past weekend, the Waunakee Gun Club held a Delta Waterfowl Flurry fundraiser at their club near Dane. They are a non-profit club that promotes the sport of shotgun shooting. For those who aren’t familiar with Delta Waterfowl, they are an excellent conservation group who has made a dramatic impact on waterfowl populations and the preservation of waterfowl hunting. There vision is to be North America’s leader in waterfowl ecology and waterfowling. The Waunakee Gun Club also supports Delta Waterfowl because of their many valuable programs like; Predator Management, Adopt-A-Pothole, Hen House, and Youth Hunts.

The event attracted over 600 shooters of the best shotgunners from Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota. There were 4 different divisions for the two-man teams. The money raised is used to “buy” or adopt a couple of potholes for the prairie region from Delta Waterfowl. If interested in a quality club to join, give them a call at (608)-849-4638 or check out their website at waunakeegunclub@yahoo.com. Brad Jones is the club president and he can give you any info you may need.

Fishing will continue to improve as we progress into fall. The water temperatures have fallen from near 80 degrees to the low 70’s. Walleyes and saugers will begin their migration toward the area’s dams. Fish in Lake Wisconsin will begin moving toward the upper lake areas near Tipperary Point and Bob’s Landing. Muskies are still being caught on top-water baits near any structure that is close to deep water. Crappies are biting near wooded structure on small minnows and slip floats in Lake Wisconsin. The algae will continue to clear up as the water temperature drops.

Pray for frost if you hate mosquitoes!