Statewide, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued 10% fewer bear hunting licenses this year. In Zone B in the northeast there were 5,551 applicants for 1,515 licenses. The harvest target for the region is 850, the same as in 2023.

Harvest success rates were down slightly in 2023, likely due to abundant acorn production across much of the state’s bear range.

“Acorns are a staple of bear diets in the late summer and early fall, and hunter baits tend to become less attractive when natural food production is high,” said Randy Johnson, DNR large carnivore specialist.

The first hunting period through Sept. 10 in the north allows hunting with the aid of bait, but not dogs. From Sept. 11 to Oct. 1, hunting is permitted with the aid of dogs, bait and all other legal methods. The final period from Oct. 2-8 is with the aid of dogs only.

Will Specht, 17, of Dubuque, Iowa, landed a northern pike on a his first cast into the Pine River in Florence County during a summer visit in Homestead, Wis., with grandfather Joel Johnson and great-grandfather Glenn Johnson. After a couple of photos, he and his grandfather released it back into the river. Specht was using a Mepps No. 5 copper bucktail spinner.

Bear hunting periods open Sept. 11 in the Upper Peninsula, with dogs allowed beginning Sept. 16.

Wisconsin’s early goose season opens Sunday and will run through Sept. 15. The 2024 population estimate for Wisconsin-breeding Canada geese is nearly 155,000, which is more than 40% higher than the long-term average, the DNR said. This year’s season has an increased daily bag limit of five throughout the state.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will host a webinar at 1 p.m. Eastern time Thursday to release its new 10-year State Forest Management Plan. The draft document was developed by DNR forestry, wildlife, fisheries and recreation planning staff.

Webinar registration and other information can be found at https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/about/newsroom/releases/2024/08/23/dnr-state-forest-plan.

A public meeting on the plan has been set for 1 to 4 p.m. Eastern time Thursday, Sept. 12, at Marquette Charter Township Hall, 1000 Commerce Drive, Marquette.

The plan will also be available on the DNR’s state forest planning webpage beginning Thursday, and you can email feedback to ForestPlanComments@Michigan.gov through Oct. 4.

“This 10-year plan helps instill confidence that our short-term management goals are helping to achieve long-term sustainability of both forest products and wildlife habitat,” said Dan Heckman, planning and modeling specialist with the DNR’s Forest Resources Division. “This is also a climate-smart plan, with objectives and actions that will further guide effective management of the state forest in a changing climate.”

Tri-County Snowmobile Club will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Marion Park in Norway. The club plans to gear up for fall brushing and signing for the upcoming season.

The Michigan DNR reported this Upper Peninsula activity:

Keweenaw Bay/Huron Bay: Anglers found plenty of lake trout while trolling and jigging. Lake trout were by far the most caught species with only a few coho salmon caught during the week. Most fish were caught while trolling in medium depth water with the fish dispersed throughout the water column.

Big Traverse Bay/South Portage Entry Canal: Anglers were incredibly successful fishing for lake trout this last week. Most anglers found trolling to bring the most fish into the boat, however jigging trips were also productive. While trolling, silver and red seemed to be the most successful colors. Jigging anglers had luck with Swedish Pimples and jigging spoons with or without cut bait.

Little Bay de Noc: Walleye anglers reported fair to good fishing. Anglers had success fishing “black bottom,” Minneapolis shoals, and near the mouth of the Escanaba River. Drifting or trolling crawler harnesses caught fish at slow speeds. Some anglers caught fish casting retrieving style lures close to the bottom. A few anglers reported having a few fish eat jigs paired with live bait. Smallmouth bass anglers also reported good fishing.

Manistique: Anglers salmon fishing in the lake reported having success in numbers of steelhead and small Chinook salmon. Anglers reported that adult Chinook bites were few and far between, although most had at least one or two adult-sized fish bites per trip. Among those launching out of Manistique, fishing activity was most prevalent by the “red can” and Barques Pointe. Boats trolling for Chinook salmon near the river mouth had only limited success. Anglers fishing in the river reported a few pink salmon with limited Chinook sightings. Walleye anglers reported fair to slow fishing.

Marquette: Lake trout were caught consistently with the most successful boats making their way out towards the Clay Banks west of Granite Rock. The upper harbor seemed to be the harbor that most anglers were leaving from on days that the weather cooperated. Excellent numbers of lake trout were still being caught jigging or trolling around the northeast side of White Rocks and out towards Granite Island this week. A few anglers also reported catching a few salmon out by Granite Rock. Watermelon was very good along with green and orange Spin-n-Glos or green/silver flasher fly presentations for lake trout. Chartreuse and silver jigs worked well around the northeast side of White Rocks especially with a little cut bait. Trolling between White Rocks towards Granite Rock or Clay Banks in around 130 to 160 feet of water was a popular depth range.

Au Train: Lake trout were still being caught from anglers jigging in approximately 160 feet of water north to northeast of Au Train Island, especially with cut bait. Anglers reported lake trout being caught while trolling in waters around 130 to 180 feet north to northwest of the Au Train Island in the flats or out towards the Laughing White Fish Clay Banks. Wonder Bread, multicolored glow spoons, or green/silver flasher flies were good color combinations.

Ontonagon River: Anglers brought in good numbers of walleye. Occasional catches of rock bass were also reported. Anglers had luck throughout the day, with early morning trips yielding the best results.

Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Anglers reported catches consisting of lake trout in good numbers along with some occasional Chinook salmon. Anglers had the most success trolling deeper waters.

Black River Harbor: Over the past week, inclement weather limited lake access on occasion. Fishing efforts from the harbor were healthy, with anglers reporting catches of lake trout in good numbers. Anglers had the most success when trolling in deeper waters.

Les Cheneaux Islands: Anglers were still catching perch off the Hessel Marina, however the bite slowed down a good amount. There were good numbers of pike caught while using chubs, but the majority of the fish being caught were undersized.

DeTour: The fishing in DeTour produced plenty of pink salmon when trolling in the 45 feet of water range with spoons. Anglers also did well with lake trout in the flats.