Northern Wisconsin had moderate winter
The winter of 2019-20 was moderate overall in northern Wisconsin but included "very severe" conditions at a few sites, according to an annual Department of Natural Resources assessment.
The DNR uses snow and temperature readings from dozens of sites to form a Winter Severity Index (WSI).
Each site accumulates one point each day the temperature is 0 degrees Fahrenheit or colder and one point each day the snow is 18 inches or deeper. The data are recorded Dec. 1 through April 30.
At the end of the season, if the points total less than 50, it's considered a mild winter; 50 to 79, moderate; 80 to 99, severe; more than 100, very severe.
The index was established primarily to help assess the impact of winter conditions on the state's white-tailed deer herd.
For the 2019-20 winter, the average WSI for northern Wisconsin stations was 65.
The winter likely will have a variable impact across the north on survival of white-tailed deer and 2020 fawn production, said Dan Storm, DNR ungulate researcher.
"Some of the northern tier counties experienced a severe or very severe winter, so we expect that some overwinter losses have occurred there and we expect reduced fawn recruitment there," Storm said. "On the other hand, much of the north experienced moderate or mild winters, so we expect that overwinter survival was good there and fawn recruitment should not be adversely influenced by the 2020 winter."
In a sign the northern deer herd is in decent shape, only one county deer advisory council – Forest County – recommended "buck only" hunting regulations for the 2020 deer hunting seasons.
On the heels of the very severe 201314 winter, which featured an average WSI of 143 and was the worst recorded in the 60-year history of the work, as many as 12 counties had buck-only rules.
The regulation, which protects female deer from hunter harvest, has been dropped gradually as the deer herd has recovered.
After 12 counties voted for buck-only in 2015, 10 did in 2016 and four in 2017 and none in 2019.
As with most winters, there was substantial variation in WSI values across the sites.
Trout Lake and Gile had the highest WSIs at 138 and 137, respectively. Other sites with very severe (100 or higher) readings were Mercer at 128, Pence (116), Washburn (112), Eagle River (110) and Cornucopia (105).
But many northern sites received moderate readings, including Clam Lake (77), Florence (57) and Antigo (56), and others, such as Park Falls (49), Gordon (49) and Hayward (30), were mild.
The DNR is expected to present its final deer hunting regulation package to the Natural Resources Board in the coming months.
As it stands, all counties except Forest are expected to have antlerless deer tags available to hunters.
Free fishing weekend: The DNR is holding its 8th annual "Free Fun Weekend" on June 6-7.
As an added inducement for the public to engage in outdoor recreation, no fees are charged to enter state parks or trails and no fishing license is required for anglers over the two days.
In addition, ATV, UTVs and OHMs are exempt from registration requirements. Resident and non-resident all-terrain vehicle operators do not need a trail pass to ride state ATV trails.
With regard to angling, residents and non-residents are not required to have a fishing license or trout/salmon stamps.
However, all fishing regulations apply, including bag and length limits.
Due to the public health risk, loaner equipment will not be available from the DNR.
The agency also recommends only anglers living in the same household (i.e. family members or roommates) should fish within 6 feet of one another.
Anglers are encouraged to have a backup plan in the event there is crowding or unsafe conditions where they plan to fish.