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Back to the questions!
For information on licenses, regulations and other items close to an angler's heart, please visit the Department of Natural Resources web site:
Resident & nonresident fishing licenses
Fishing season dates
General fishing information
Anyone 16 years or older needs a license to fish in Wisconsin.
How do I keep hellgrammites alive for bait?
The Wisconsin DNR's resident Walleye Wizard, Dr. Tom Sheffy, suggests the following:
"Trying to keep hellgrammites alive for a long period of time is outdated bait science. What you do is throw about 30 dozen of the little fellers in a blender, whip them into a nice frothy green slurry, and then freeze this "essence of H-mite" in an ice cube tray. Next time you're out fishing, take a couple of mite cubes along, letting them thaw. A small piece of green sponge on a hook, dipped in this elixir, will outfish the real thing!"
Do nightcrawlers come in different colors?
Once again, Dr. Sheffy to the rescue:
"Yes indeed, there are colored crawlers -- probably get that way from dyes added to the food supply. But there's more....bait dealers also sell "Rosy Reds" -- fathead minnowsthat are pinkish-orange in color. Now think about it a little...in the natural scheme of things, after a trophy predator has consumed a jillion 'normal' black, silver and white minnows, and survived to a ripe old age, why would it all of a sudden eat a pink minnow? Or a green crawler? It seems to me evolution favors the status quo. In most cases, eating a red or green crawler would greatly increase selection against such an individual. Having said that, I should also point out that some fish do subscribe to the notion that variety is the spice of life."
I'd like to see a weekly fishing report by county, lake and river. Is such information available?
While we are unable to offer a full account of fishing activity on every river, lake and stream in the state, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources does provide a weekly outdoor recreation roundup -- the Outdoor Report -- that includes specific locations where good fishing has been reported around Wisconsin.
Where can I find out about different hunting seasons, license sales and regulations?
The Department of Natural Resources web site has the information you need:
Hunting seasons
Hunting license sales
Hunting regulations
Fees for all types of sporting licenses
What is a "Conservation Patron" license?
The Conservation Patron license is for the avid sportsperson. This license offers 25 different privileges, including licenses, stamps, applications, park admission, and more -- at over $100.00 savings to you! Visit the Department of Natural Resources Conservation Patron web site for details.
You're not alone! Scores of visitors to the WNR web site have spotted killdeer near their homes and businesses -- nesting in driveways, gardens, parking lots and all manner of other inconvenient spots!
For more details on the killdeer's nesting habits, and on what to do when the birds are nearby, please take a look at the following pages on our web site:
A call from above
Killdeer are near!
There are winged ants in our tub and bathroom wash basin. How do we get rid of them?
You are being bugged by winged pavement ants and the solution is to spread protein baits which they will carry back to the nest where the poison will be stored and eaten.
In general, household ants need three things to survive -- water, food and shelter. The insects are only winged when they are reproducing, so a winged colony is a growing colony.
Most infestations will not solve themselves. You have to provide the right poison bait that will be carried to the nest, find and remove the nest yourself, or hire professional help to do so. For more information, see our story June 1999 story "Antidote" -- or try the following:
Where do I report unusual bird sightings?
The perfect place to post unusual bird sightings is on WisBirdNet (the Wisconsin Bird Network). This discussion group list is scanned daily by many active ornithologists and amateur birders statewide.
To join WisBirdNet, send an email message to Tom Sykes at Lawrence University. In the body of the message type
SUBSCRIBE wisbirdn, followed by your full name.
On the next line include your current home mailing address and telephone number. (This information will be used only to verify your identity and will not be made public.)
Only registered subscribers are able to post email to the WisBirdNet list. Non-subscribers may read WisBirdNet messages at Recent Postings from the Wisconsin Birding List.
Lake maps showing shoreline features, depths and vegetation for many of Wisconsin's frequently fished lakes are available at DNR regional offices and service centers.
Several private companies have taken these maps, added color and other details, printed them on waterproof paper and bound them into books. You can purchase the maps at sporting goods stores and bait shops.
Lake maps and map indexes are available from The Clarkson Map Company, 1225 Delanglade Street, Box 218, Kaukauna, WI 54130. Prices are $1 for paper maps, $2 for plastic maps plus shipping charges (Phone (920) 766-3000.
Trout stream books are available free-of-charge from DNR stations, from Clarkson and from several regional publishers. ANY book store with computer access can access a host of Wisconsin trout fishing books.
My favorite stream maps are produced by the local Trout Unlimited chapters. The maps are all 8 1/2 x 11, roads are shown clearly and the trout streams are shown in color.
The DNR's book, Wisconsin Trout Waters is out of print but a private company started reprinting the maps as individual sheets or rolled maps. Contact HALCYON Company, Box 5214, Madison, WI 53703. The price for a whole set is $12 plus shipping and handling.
Fishing Hot Spots in Rhinelander produces lake maps on waterproof paper. They suggest specific places to try at different times of the year. You can buy individual large maps or bound sets of smaller maps by region. The address is Box 1167, Rhinelander, WI 54501. Phone: 1-800-3385957 or 715-369-5555. Most bait shops also carry the Fishing Hot Spots maps for waters within an hour's drive of the bait shop.
How do I make campsite reservations at Wisconsin's state parks?
Call 1-888-WI-PARKS to make reservations over the phone.
OR
Reserve online through Reserve America
OR
Visit the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources camping pages for more information.
Where can I find a list of Wisconsin State Parks?
Visit the Wisconsin State Parks web pages for a list and a map of Wisconsin State Parks:
State Parks list and map
What is the "Wisconsin Atlas"?
The Wisconsin Atlas & Gazetteer, published by DeLorme, is a set of maps showing every named road and many unnamed roads in Wisconsin. The atlas measures about 15 x12 inches, runs about 104 pages and costs about $15. It is available through libraries and book stores. The company's address is DeLorme, P.O. Box 298, Freeport, Maine 04032, phone (207) 865-4171.
Fishing and Hunting
How much are fishing licenses? Do children under 16 need licenses?For information on licenses, regulations and other items close to an angler's heart, please visit the Department of Natural Resources web site:
Resident & nonresident fishing licenses
Fishing season dates
General fishing information
Anyone 16 years or older needs a license to fish in Wisconsin.
How do I keep hellgrammites alive for bait?
The Wisconsin DNR's resident Walleye Wizard, Dr. Tom Sheffy, suggests the following:
"Trying to keep hellgrammites alive for a long period of time is outdated bait science. What you do is throw about 30 dozen of the little fellers in a blender, whip them into a nice frothy green slurry, and then freeze this "essence of H-mite" in an ice cube tray. Next time you're out fishing, take a couple of mite cubes along, letting them thaw. A small piece of green sponge on a hook, dipped in this elixir, will outfish the real thing!"
Do nightcrawlers come in different colors?
Once again, Dr. Sheffy to the rescue:
"Yes indeed, there are colored crawlers -- probably get that way from dyes added to the food supply. But there's more....bait dealers also sell "Rosy Reds" -- fathead minnowsthat are pinkish-orange in color. Now think about it a little...in the natural scheme of things, after a trophy predator has consumed a jillion 'normal' black, silver and white minnows, and survived to a ripe old age, why would it all of a sudden eat a pink minnow? Or a green crawler? It seems to me evolution favors the status quo. In most cases, eating a red or green crawler would greatly increase selection against such an individual. Having said that, I should also point out that some fish do subscribe to the notion that variety is the spice of life."
I'd like to see a weekly fishing report by county, lake and river. Is such information available?
While we are unable to offer a full account of fishing activity on every river, lake and stream in the state, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources does provide a weekly outdoor recreation roundup -- the Outdoor Report -- that includes specific locations where good fishing has been reported around Wisconsin.
Where can I find out about different hunting seasons, license sales and regulations?
The Department of Natural Resources web site has the information you need:
Hunting seasons
Hunting license sales
Hunting regulations
Fees for all types of sporting licenses
What is a "Conservation Patron" license?
The Conservation Patron license is for the avid sportsperson. This license offers 25 different privileges, including licenses, stamps, applications, park admission, and more -- at over $100.00 savings to you! Visit the Department of Natural Resources Conservation Patron web site for details.
Birds and Wildlife
Killdeer are nesting in my driveway! What should I do?You're not alone! Scores of visitors to the WNR web site have spotted killdeer near their homes and businesses -- nesting in driveways, gardens, parking lots and all manner of other inconvenient spots!
For more details on the killdeer's nesting habits, and on what to do when the birds are nearby, please take a look at the following pages on our web site:
A call from above
Killdeer are near!
There are winged ants in our tub and bathroom wash basin. How do we get rid of them?
You are being bugged by winged pavement ants and the solution is to spread protein baits which they will carry back to the nest where the poison will be stored and eaten.
In general, household ants need three things to survive -- water, food and shelter. The insects are only winged when they are reproducing, so a winged colony is a growing colony.
Most infestations will not solve themselves. You have to provide the right poison bait that will be carried to the nest, find and remove the nest yourself, or hire professional help to do so. For more information, see our story June 1999 story "Antidote" -- or try the following:
- Locate the nest by noticing where the ants crawl after they've eaten. Sometimes they nest near wet wood and can enter your house through cracks in your bathroom tiles, a leaky sink, a leaky toilet, a leaky pipe, or water seeping down an exhaust vent. Most ants live near bathrooms, kitchens, foundation cracks or leaky roof joints.
- If you can find the nest, destroy it. If you can't find it, at least become keen observers of where the ants go and hire a pest control company. Once the nest has been found, it needs to be removed and the queen ant has to be killed. Reputable pest control service may use chemical or nonchemical means to remove the nest and treat your home over the course of a year to stop subsequent infestations. Most firms that remove ant nests recommend a series of follow-up visits in one package price.
- Once the source of the problem is pinpointed, repair the leaky pipe, spongy wood, leaky roof or other material that is providing the perfect breeding grounds for the ants. Ant colonies can re-establish if the same conditions remain.
- It's also a good idea to make your house less hospitable to ants. Remove any old wood piles or at least don't store wood in your house or near the house. Trim trees so branches don't touch the house or roof. Ants will frequently gain access to the house by crawling up old, rotting trees onto your roof. Check the foundation for holes too.
- Follow-up after an infestation by treating the foundation of your home and cracks near the spot where you found a nest. Consider a benign treatment like sweeping diatomaceous earth and a natural insecticide like pyrethrum, into cracks and along the trails the ants followed. Diatomaceous earth is composed of sharp crystals that cut the ants' exoskeletons. The insects desiccate and die.
- Contact the university extension service for brochures about ant control. The entomologist we contacted, UW-Madison specialist Dr. Phil Pelletteri, produced an inexpensive ant control brochure available through the University of Minnesota --"What to Do About Household Ants." It is bulletin number NCR 531 and contains close-up photos of common household ants.
Where do I report unusual bird sightings?
The perfect place to post unusual bird sightings is on WisBirdNet (the Wisconsin Bird Network). This discussion group list is scanned daily by many active ornithologists and amateur birders statewide.
To join WisBirdNet, send an email message to Tom Sykes at Lawrence University. In the body of the message type
SUBSCRIBE wisbirdn, followed by your full name.
On the next line include your current home mailing address and telephone number. (This information will be used only to verify your identity and will not be made public.)
Only registered subscribers are able to post email to the WisBirdNet list. Non-subscribers may read WisBirdNet messages at Recent Postings from the Wisconsin Birding List.
Outdoor Recreation
Where can I get lake maps?Lake maps showing shoreline features, depths and vegetation for many of Wisconsin's frequently fished lakes are available at DNR regional offices and service centers.
Several private companies have taken these maps, added color and other details, printed them on waterproof paper and bound them into books. You can purchase the maps at sporting goods stores and bait shops.
Lake maps and map indexes are available from The Clarkson Map Company, 1225 Delanglade Street, Box 218, Kaukauna, WI 54130. Prices are $1 for paper maps, $2 for plastic maps plus shipping charges (Phone (920) 766-3000.
Trout stream books are available free-of-charge from DNR stations, from Clarkson and from several regional publishers. ANY book store with computer access can access a host of Wisconsin trout fishing books.
My favorite stream maps are produced by the local Trout Unlimited chapters. The maps are all 8 1/2 x 11, roads are shown clearly and the trout streams are shown in color.
The DNR's book, Wisconsin Trout Waters is out of print but a private company started reprinting the maps as individual sheets or rolled maps. Contact HALCYON Company, Box 5214, Madison, WI 53703. The price for a whole set is $12 plus shipping and handling.
Fishing Hot Spots in Rhinelander produces lake maps on waterproof paper. They suggest specific places to try at different times of the year. You can buy individual large maps or bound sets of smaller maps by region. The address is Box 1167, Rhinelander, WI 54501. Phone: 1-800-3385957 or 715-369-5555. Most bait shops also carry the Fishing Hot Spots maps for waters within an hour's drive of the bait shop.
How do I make campsite reservations at Wisconsin's state parks?
Call 1-888-WI-PARKS to make reservations over the phone.
OR
Reserve online through Reserve America
OR
Visit the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources camping pages for more information.
Where can I find a list of Wisconsin State Parks?
Visit the Wisconsin State Parks web pages for a list and a map of Wisconsin State Parks:
State Parks list and map
What is the "Wisconsin Atlas"?
The Wisconsin Atlas & Gazetteer, published by DeLorme, is a set of maps showing every named road and many unnamed roads in Wisconsin. The atlas measures about 15 x12 inches, runs about 104 pages and costs about $15. It is available through libraries and book stores. The company's address is DeLorme, P.O. Box 298, Freeport, Maine 04032, phone (207) 865-4171.
WNR magazine
How do I subscribe to your fabulous magazine?- First, you need to know our rates. WNR costs:
- $8.97 for one year (6 issues)
- $15.97 for two years (12 issues)
- $21.97 for three years (18 issues)
- Subscribe online! You can use a credit card, or we can bill you.
- Call 1-800-678-9472 toll free. We'll send you the bill.
- Write us at WISCONSIN NATURAL RESOURCES, Box 7191, Madison WI 53707-7191. We'll bill you. Or, you can mail us a check made out to WISCONSIN NATURAL RESOURCES.
