The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages hunters to scout ahead this gun deer season as summer storm damage may still impede access to favorite hunting locations this fall.

Though significant clean­up has occurred, damage from the July windstorm was extensive. As a result, hunters’ favorite hunting spots may be unrecognizable and inaccessible, and scouting for a new location may be needed.

In Langlade County, straight-line winds had a significant impact on approximately 1,800 acres of state-owned land, including portions of Peters Marsh Wildlife Area and the Upper Wolf River Fishery Area. 

The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest also sustained significant damage as did other properties in the greater White Lake and Mountain areas. Salvage timber sale establishment is in progress on both state properties.

The Langlade County Forest reported 30,000 acres of public land affected by this storm. The county forestry department cleared trails to make them safe for users with help from the DNR, area clubs and other agencies, but access into the forest remains challenging in some areas.

The county has set up numerous salvage timber harvests to clean up where possible, recover value from downed timber and prevent the spread of tree disease and parasites. 

The county’s ATV/UTV trails are open, but visitors should be aware of numerous ongoing logging operations throughout the trail system, according to the DNR.