Woodland owners

New Program Connects Hunting Heritage With Landowner Forest Management

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Photo of a young deer wanders through a woodlot with invasive plants.

A young deer wanders through a woodlot with invasive plants. / Photo Credit: Central Pennsylvania Forestry blog

By Bob Nack, DNR R3 Supervisor, Madison;
Robert.Nack@wisconsin.gov or 608-617-3492

A joint state-landowner program proven successful in Wisconsin areas is under consideration for expansion into more counties to combat the slow, but steady decline in active deer hunters, prompting concerns in both environmental and economic realms.

The program, also tested successfully in other states, requires participants to complete hunter education safety and online deer hunting 101 courses. Participants also are required to practice at the shooting range and join in live virtual meetings. Experienced mentors are ready to provide guidance and support to participants.

Adams County landowner Matt Dettlaff endorsed the program. “Our landowner cooperative recognized this program as another valuable new tool in our herd management toolbox,” he said.

Forest landowners, including Dettlaff, see the browsing impact high deer densities can have on tree regeneration and wildlife-habitat quality. One strategy of this program is to tap new adult hunters to harvest antlerless deer for specific property goals. Landowner participants would determine the antlerless harvest goals and control the hunting plans for their properties.

“We typically cannot harvest enough antlerless deer ourselves to meet our goals to keep the herd in balance with quality habitat,” Dettlaff said. “Helping introduce new folks to the deer hunting tradition we are passionate about is just an added feel-good bonus.” Check out this video from the 2025 late-season firearm hunt in Adams County.

Landowners passionate about forest management and the future of deer hunting are encouraged to participate in any of these ways:

Organized late-season firearm hunt for antlerless only: An organized firearm antlerless deer hunt in early December. Program includes an evening social and a deer-processing demonstration. Ideally, a landowner or group of area landowners provide hunting opportunities for at least 10 adult hunters. Landowners identify antlerless deer harvest goals for their property.
Archery hunting: The DNR contracts with Raised at Full Draw (RAFD) to provide archery educational programs. RAFD is piloting a Field to Fork bow hunting program for adults. Participants commit to attend weekly archery practices from June through August. Participants  are also expected to complete weekly homework online to review at in-person meetings. Before hunting, an archery shooting proficiency test will be administered by instructors to ensure participants have mastered their equipment to hunt ethically. RAFD is looking for landowners with property within an hour of Madison.

Interested? Contact Bob Nack, DNR R3 Supervisor, at Robert.Nack@wisconsin.gov or 608-617-3492.

Spring Weather Damages Trees

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Red pine damaged by the April 2nd, 2026, ice storm in central Wisconsin. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Michael Hillstrom, DNR Invasive Forest Pest Coordinator, Fitchburg
Michael.Hillstrom@wisconsin.gov or 608-513-7690

Spring 2026 has seen a variety of tree stress events. Wisconsin trees have experienced snow and ice damage, severe storms that resulted in wind, hail and flood damage and swings in temperatures that brought leaf out and subsequent frost damage.

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Watch For Spongy Moth Caterpillars And Tree Damage This Summer

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By Bill McNee, Forest Health Specialist, Oshkosh
Bill.McNee@wisconsin.gov

Close-up of caterpillar feeding on a leaf.

A spongy moth caterpillar feeds on a leaf. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

Property owners are encouraged to monitor their trees for spongy moth larvae and damage this summer to determine whether control measures are needed.

Property owners who have oak, birch, crabapple, aspen, willow and linden (basswood) trees should be particularly watchful because the caterpillars of this invasive insect prefer these species.

However, they will feed on many other kinds of trees and shrubs.

Continue reading “Watch For Spongy Moth Caterpillars And Tree Damage This Summer” →

Fungicide For HRD Stump Treatment Available In Smaller Size

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A bag of Tim-bor Professional, a borate-based chemical that fights Heterobasidion root disease. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Kyoko Scanlon, Forest Pathologist, Fitchburg
Kyoko.Scanlon@wisconsin.gov

People who have been dealing with Heterobasidion Root Disease (HRD) may be familiar with the product name “Cellu-Treat®.” It has been used to treat fresh cut stumps to prevent HRD.

But Cellu-Treat® is not the only chemical available for HRD. Another borate-based chemical, Tim-bor® Professional, can also be used legally for the same purpose in Wisconsin. Both products are manufactured by Nisus Corporation, and their labels are almost identical (Cellu-Treat label, Tim-bor label).

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Species Spotlight: Japanese Honeysuckle

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Japanese honeysuckle climbing up nearby trees. / Photo Credit: Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org

By Carter Hellenbrand, DNR Invasive Plant Field Specialist, Fitchburg
Carter.Hellenbrand@Wisconsin.gov  

Note: This is the first installment in the Forest Health News “Invasives Spotlight” series, a monthly series of Forest Health News articles.

Many people recognize honeysuckle as a fast-spreading invasive shrub that can quickly displace native vegetation. But did you know that some honeysuckles exist as a vine?

Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) is an invasive perennial vine that can grow to a length of 80 feet or longer. Birds will often eat and disperse the berries the vine produces, allowing for the creation of new populations.

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‘Exploding Trees’ Face Long-term Impacts

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A long vertical wound in a tree trunk caused by deep freezing.

Cracked bark and wood creates a long vertical wound typical of the phenomenon commonly called “exploding trees.” / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Linda Williams, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Woodruff
Linda.Williams@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0665

This past winter, “exploding trees” went viral on social media. Many news outlets followed up with a more realistic explanation of the dramatically named phenomenon, pointing out that while the bitter cold can cause sudden cracks to form on trees, the trees don’t truly explode.

But what happens to those damaged trees as we warm up and move into the growing season?

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Look For Spongy Moth Egg Masses And Take Action

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Closeup of a person scraping spongy moth egg masses into a cup.

A putty knife, plastic knife or similar object can be used to gently scrape spongy moth egg masses into a cup of soapy water. The water can be discarded after two days. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Bill McNee, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Oshkosh
Bill.McNee@wisconsin.gov

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages property owners to examine their trees for spongy moth egg masses and determine whether control measures are needed this spring.

Property owners who have oak, birch, crabapple, aspen, willow and linden (basswood) trees should be particularly watchful because the caterpillars of this invasive insect prefer these species. However, they will feed on many other kinds of trees and shrubs.

Continue reading “Look For Spongy Moth Egg Masses And Take Action” →

Oak Wilt Information Updated

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University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension online tool to help with oak wilt decisions.

A University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension online tool provides users localized information about the estimated emergence status of the two most important insects that transmit oak wilt in Wisconsin. / Graphic Credit: University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension

By Kyoko Scanlon, DNR Forest Pathologist, Fitchburg
Kyoko.Scanlon@wisconsin.gov

In 2025, oak wilt was detected for the first time in Hughes Township, Bayfield County, a northern Wisconsin location where oak wilt remains uncommon. There were no new county finds in 2025.

Based on the findings in 2025, the maps in the Oak Harvesting Guidelines To Reduce The Risk Of Introduction And Spread Of Oak Wilt (the oak wilt guidelines), oak wilt fact sheet and were updated. The maps in the oak wilt guidelines are good through the end of 2026.

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Oak Wilt High Risk Period Quickly Approaches

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A closeup of a fungal pressure pad under the bark of an oak tree infected with oak wilt.

A fungal pressure pad formed on the outside of the sapwood underneath the bark of an infected tree. The pad will create cracks in the bark, where beetles can enter and visit the pad and become covered in spores. They will then leave and move on to infect new trees through open wounds. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

By Alex Hornung, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Plover
Alexandra.Hornung@wisconsin.gov or 715-340-3810

It is again that time of year to pause operating in oak stands or pruning oak trees during the high-risk period for oak wilt, which begins in April. The high-risk period begins April 1 in the South, April 15 in the North, and ends in both zones on July 15.

The high-risk period is determined by when the beetles that carry the fungus that causes oak wilt have emerged for the year and when they are carrying the highest number of fungal spores. When wounds are created by logging operations or other activities that expose sapwood, the beetles carry the fungus to the wounded tree, and the disease process begins.

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