Hello. I drew my first fisher tag, a northern tag in WI. I'm from southern WI, and won't have a ton of time to be up north. My plan is to take a week off, probably towards the begining of the season. I've read through the archives and feel like I have a pretty good understanding of sets, lure, bait, etc. Anyone have any general areas to start this adventure? I was thinking about the Flambeau and Chequamegon forests. I did come across a guide service in the Iron River area. Sounds like the odd of success would be higher, but I'm not convinced that's the way I'd like to go. Any thoughts or advice?

Can you put out bait before season? Might try and go up on a weekend a couple weeks before your week off and throw out a couple baits.

Check your game laws if you can put out a couple of good bait piles you should get a fisher or two to hang around those area's and catch your first fisher.

Flambeau, Chequamegon would be good areas. There is alot of opportunities in Price county areas. If you look into the price county area give me a shout as I could probably point you in a few good general locations.
Good luck

Fisher populations are spotty across Northern WI.

If it was me, I'd trap as far south in that zone as possible.

Take it for what it's worth and good luck!

Thanks for the advice. I've heard bear baits may be a good starting point. I'm going to reach out to the guys I bear hunted with a few years ago.
I always assumed more north was better, similar to cats and bears, but I'll do some homework on the southern side of the zone.

Bear baits are great locations for fisher trapping. The bait attracts mice and voles and other critters
that fisher eat.

Congrats on drawing you tag!

This may sound overly simplistic and obvious, but the key to catching a fisher (any animal) is to know it's in the area. You're going to have to spend a far amount of time scouting if you're not familiar with the area and the animal presence or you're going to have to rely heavily on local's knowledge.


Where I hunt and trap, I haven't seen evidence of a fisher population in over 30+ years.


Good luck to you however you chose to pursue your fisher!

I always find fisher around low areas with hemlock.

Yes,bear bait can be very good location's fisher have a very sweet tooth,they remember where free easy meals have come from.

I have hunted and fished in two of the more southern units of the Chequamegon Medford, Park Falls often for 25 years. Twenty years ago seeing fisher was common, the last 5 years rarely see one. As stated above I would trap as far south in those public areas as you can and don't forget the county forest land either. Yes bear bait areas are a good start. The closer you get to farm land the more coons you will find, but still not like southern WI.
I have caught 3 that I have had to release due to not having a tag while trapping. All of those were along small feeder streams so I believe they travel these streams, flowages etc. a lot. edges of swamps are good too. More calories around the water.

Bryce

Good luck. Hope you catch one. I drew a southern zone tag this year. I will be setting right outside of Appleton. Some landowners will let me trap.
on their land as they have seen fisher in their woods. It's amazing how they have expanded their range southward.

The for the advice so far. I may try to focus on the southern edge of the unit. I plan on coming to the convention to soak any info and advice I hear.

There will be a fisher demo on Friday at 4 PM by Jack Hill.

Bryce