DSORe eNews S625

JUNE 18, 2011 | SHOW #625

•Take Dad fishing on Father’s Day
•Fishhound shares guides’ advice on where to fish
•Wisconsin’s new one-day fishing license a hot item
•Fast Lake Michigan action off Sheboygan

•Jeff catches big cats & carp
•Dan & Jeff debate Estabrook Dam removal

INSTANT SURVEY VOTE ON - POLL s625
Are we overharvesting Wisconsin wild turkeys?

Spring 2011 Harvest Down 16 Percent Over 2010

BACKGROUND: Spring 2011 Harvest Down 16 Percent Over 2010

MADISON – Preliminary estimates show that Wisconsin hunters registered 40,103 turkeys during the 2011 spring turkey season. A total of 210,059 permits were issued for the spring hunt, according to licensing officials.

Zone 1 produced the highest overall turkey harvest at 12,253 birds, followed by Zone 3 with 9,848 turkeys. The best hunter success appears to have been in Zone 2, with a preliminary success rate of 25 percent, followed by Zones 1, 3, 4, and 5, all at 18 percent success. Overall, the statewide success rate was 19 percent and, as in past years, success rates were higher in the earlier time periods.

This registration total shows a 16 percent decrease from the 2010 harvest of 47,722 birds.

THE EVENTS CALENDAR HAS BEEN MOVED DANSMALLOUTDOORS.COM/EVENTS

•FISHING CONTESTS: Find them ALL online @ American Fishing Contests
•RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY BANQUETS & EVENTS: »ONLINE INFO:
•MILFORD HILLS ACTIVITIES & EVENTS: »ONLINE INFO

PRODUCT REVIEW: Sylvania Silverstar Ultra Headlight Bulbs

This week, Dan gives the Sylvania Silverstar Ultra headlight bulbs the Outdoors Radio Road Test. His assessment:

“I do a lot of night driving on back roads going hunting and fishing. Standard headlights can dim up to 20% over time, I’ve heard, so I thought I’d try some new Sylvania Silverstar Ultras. I installed a set last month before my turkey-hunting trip to New York. Man, are they bright! I have hit several deer over the years, so I’m always watching roadside ditches. These Sylvania Silverstar Ultras light up both sides of the road. I feel more confident driving at night, and that goes a long way toward making a long road trip successful.”

Annual survey indicates unexpected rise in state ruffed grouse population

MADISON – There is good news for ruffed grouse hunters coming from 2011 spring drumming counts. Department of Natural Resources wildlife officials report that Wisconsin’s ruffed gouse population appears to have increased from last year, according to data collected by wildlife staff, foresters, wardens, and countless volunteers.

“Statewide, the ruffed grouse population increased about 38 percent between 2010 and 2011,” said Scott Walter, DNR upland wildlife ecologist.

“The southwest study region showed the greatest increase in drumming activity over the last year with a 118 percent increase, with all routes either increasing or remaining stable,” said Walter. “The central and northern regions both showed healthy increases of 31 percent and 43 percent, respectively.” No drumming grouse were heard on transects run in the southeast region, which contains the least amount of grouse cover in the state.

Grouse populations in northern Wisconsin tend to cycle predictably over an 8- to 11-year period. The previous high was in 1999, and it was assumed that Wisconsin had reached the peak of the current grouse cycle two years ago, in 2009. Biologists interpreted the reported 5 percent decrease in drumming activity observed during the 2010 survey as an indication that the ruffed grouse population had begun its cyclic downswing.

This year’s robust increase in drumming activity, however, suggests that perhaps Wisconsin hunters and wildlife enthusiasts have yet to see the peak in the current population cycle.