Though water levels are still low, a midweek rain was just the boost the Ahnapee and Kewaunee river systems needed to lure more spawn-minded Chinook salmon upstream.

The next couple weeks will be prime time to view the salmon on their death runs at both area Department of Natural Resources egg-taking sites: the Besadny Anadromous Fisheries Facility west of Kewaunee, and Strawberry Creek near Sturgeon Bay.

Pumps were turned on at Strawberry Tuesday, and salmon were packing into the sorting pond. That site serves as the primary Chinook egg-taking facility most years. Kewaunee is a back-up for “kings” and a primary collection site for steelhead (rainbow trout) in spring and brown trout and coho salmon in fall.

Next Saturday, Oct. 10, Besadny is holding its annual open house from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors can learn about the salmon spawning process and take part in a number of family-friendly activities.

Meanwhile, this is the last weekend to sight in guns, assemble gear and check stand sites before the annual youth gun deer hunt Oct. 10-11.

The special opportunity allows those age 15 and younger to get out when deer are less pressured and learn from experienced mentors.

For all hunters younger than 11 years old or hunters between ages 12-15 who have not completed hunter education, the mentor must be at least 18 years old, be a hunter education graduate, hold a current hunting license and always remain within arm’s reach of the youth hunter.

For hunters ages 12-15 who have completed hunter education, the mentor must be at least 18 years old but does not need to be a hunter education graduate or a licensed hunter. The mentor must always be in both visual and voice contact with the youth hunter.

New this year, the gun deer hunt for hunters with disabilities will be statewide the same weekend as the youth hunt. During those two days, eligible disabled hunters can hunt statewide on public land or a property they have permission for without the need to have the land enrolled in the program.

The other seven days (Oct. 3-9), disabled hunters will need to hunt on a property that is sponsored and enrolled in the program. Learn more about the disabled hunt rules at www.dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/hunt/disdeer. For the youth hunt, check out www.dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/hunt/youth.

With the exception of waterfowl hunters, all others hunting any species Oct. 10-11 must comply with the blaze orange or fluorescent pink clothing rules. “Be safe, be seen” is also wise for non-hunters working or recreating outside in rural areas during gun deer hunts, especially on public properties.

Early deer harvest

The statewide bow and crossbow deer harvest of 14,600 whitetails through the first 16 days included 6,593 bucks and 8,007 antlerless deer.

Through Sept. 27, Door County hunters were at 68 bucks and 124 antlerless, for a total of 192; Brown County, 92 bucks and 96 antlerless (188); Manitowoc County, 84 bucks and 97 antlerless (181); and Kewaunee County, 51 bucks and 42 antlerless (93).

Nearly 10,000 whitetails had been registered in the state’s largest zone, the Central Farmland. Other totals included 2,230 in the Northern Forest, 2,157 in the Southern Farmland, and 219 in the Central Forest.

Pheasant cuts

The DNR will be stocking about 65,000 pheasants over six weeks from mid-October to late November, 10,000 fewer on the 82 state-owned properties this fall.

Some area clubs will be stocking birds on private and public land again this season. Clubs get newly-hatched birds from the DNR and raise them until just prior to the opener (this year Oct. 17).

There have been no resident hunting license or stamp fee increases since 2005. Meanwhile, program costs have increased by about 65 percent over that period. It costs the state about $10 per raised and stocked pheasant.

Water levels drop

As of Sept. 25, Lake Michigan was continuing its seasonal drop, down three inches from late August and expected to drop another three by late October. Water levels were still about seven inches higher than last year.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projected levels were about an inch below the 100-year average and 35 inches below the all-time high, set in 1986. Lake levels were about 29 inches above the all-time low, set in 1964.

Southern zone opens

The southern zone duck hunt opens Oct. 3. The open water zone is closed until Oct. 17. See all the hunting options available and find a link to rules and regulations at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Hunt.

Order trees Monday

Landowners can order trees and shrubs for spring planting from the DNR beginning at 8 a.m. Oct. 5 using a new online storefront. Get the details at www.dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/treeplanting/order.