This weekend is the perfect time to get outdoors and find your adventure in Wisconsin! During Free Fun Weekend, June 5-6, park admission fees, fishing licenses and trail passes are waived for all visitors.

Before heading to a state park, trail or waterbody near you, here are some helpful things to know:

STATE PARKS

  • Admission stickers will not be required.
  • All state parks will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
  • Drive-up windows, playgrounds, bathrooms and observation towers are open.
  • Stand-alone concession facilities are open to the public at 50% capacity.
  • Office buildings, visitor centers and nature centers remain closed until further notice.
  • Adaptive rental equipment at state park properties is unavailable until further notice.
  • Due to high demand, some properties may reach their pre-determined capacity limits. When this happens, properties will close until existing visitors leave and capacity is reduced.

 TRAILS

  • Trail passes will not be required for both residents and non-residents.
  • All linear/rail trails will be open to the public, including ATV trails and horseback riding trails.

 FISHING

  • Residents and non-residents will not be required to have a fishing license or trout/salmon stamps.
  • All 2021-2022 fishing regulations apply, including bag and length limits.
  • Due to COVID-19 precautions, loaner equipment will not be available. Anglers should bring their own equipment and bait.
  • Events such as fishing clinics have been canceled.
  • Locate launches and shorefishing access points near you.

  SAFETY

  • Always wear a life jacket when fishing from a boat, kayak, canoe or paddleboard.
  • Use boat lights after sunset.
  • Never consume alcohol or drugs before or during an ATV ride or while operating a boat.
  • Wear a helmet and protective clothing such as eye protection, gloves, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt while riding an ATV.
  • All children under the age of 18 must have a minimum Department of Transportation standard motorcycle or ATV helmet; bicycle helmets are not legal.
  • Keep your speed in mind as weather and terrain conditions vary or change.

Free Fun Weekend is a wonderful way to enjoy the outdoors. Participants are encouraged to join the Wisconsin State Parks’ OutWiGo initiative. Make sure to tag your Free Fun Weekend photos with #OutWiGo.

Saturday Is World Environment Day: Learn About Beach Health 

From the cobble beaches of Washington Island to the soft, sandy beaches of our inland lakes and rivers, beaches are nature’s nirvana. Wisconsin’s beaches provide wildlife habitat, recreation areas and tourist destinations.

Unfortunately, beaches are especially vulnerable to agricultural, urban and industrial land uses, and many of our beaches are showing the effects. That’s why the Beach Health Monitoring Program is an essential part of the Wisconsin DNR’s work.

This World Environment Day and beyond, we invite you to explore, enjoy and help protect and restore Wisconsin’s beaches. Click here to learn about the DNR’s Beach Health Monitoring projects and how to check beach health in your area.

Anglers And Boaters: Help Stop The Spread Of Invasive Species

As Wisconsinites head out to find their adventure during Free Fun Weekend, remember to drain livewells and fish buckets before leaving boat launches.

During Wisconsin’s annual Drain Campaign June 4-6, boat inspectors from the Clean Boats Clean Waters (CBCW) program will visit boat landings across the state reminding those coming out of the water to drain their boats of any water to stop aquatic hitchhikers. These efforts help keep Wisconsin’s lakes and rivers healthy and the fish biting.

Every boater and angler has a role to play in protecting Wisconsin’s lakes and rivers. Start your day with a clean, dry boat. Later, when you leave the launch, following these prevention steps will comply with Wisconsin state law and help to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species in our waters:

  • Inspect boats, trailers and equipment for attached aquatic plants or animals
  • Remove all attached plants or animals
  • Drain all water from boats, motors, livewells and other equipment
  • Never move live fish away from a waterbody
  • Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash
  • Buy minnows from a Wisconsin bait dealer
  • Only use leftover minnows when either fishing with them on the same body of water or on other waters if no lake/river water or other fish have been added to the container.

To learn more about invasive species and their impacts on Wisconsin’s waters and economy, visit the DNR’s invasive species webpage.

Enter Your Artwork In DNR Stamp Design Contests

We’re now accepting artwork entries for the Wild Turkey, Pheasant and Waterfowl Stamp design contests. The winning art will appear on the 2022 Wisconsin Wild Turkey Stamp.

Every year, local artists from around Wisconsin compete for the opportunity to have their artwork featured on the Wild Turkey, Pheasant and Wisconsin Waterfowl stamps.

The deadline to submit stamp designs is July 15, 2021. Judging will take place in a closed session at the Waterfowl Hunters Expo on Aug. 28 in Oshkosh.

Rules, entry information, and reproduction rights agreements are available on the DNR website.

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