Richard Bong State Recreation Area
Current Conditions
Conditions as of Wednesday, September 24, 2008:
Nature
A nice variety of asters, goldenrod, gentians and native grasses are blooming. Warblers, thrushes, kinglets are migrating. Sandhill cranes are roosting in the wildlife refuge at night. Geese and ducks are just starting to fly.
Camping
Sunset campground is closed for the season.
The shower house in the 100 loop closes October 6.
October 13 the dump station, 200 loop shower house, the 100 loop and the 1-30 loop close for camping. The Accessible cabin closes.
The 200 loop will remain open until December 14. Sites 140-150 will be available for non-electric camping.
There will be no camping at Bong State Recreation Area from December 15 to March 6.
We are taking applications for 2009 campground hosts.
Hunting
Hunters may not use rifles or pistols at Richard Bong
Seasons open at Richard Bong
- Mourning Dove-closes October 30
- Woodcock-closes November 3
- Fall turkey-closes November 20
- Archery Deer-closes November 20 re-opens December1 to January 4
- Crow-closes November 20
- Squirrel-closes January 31
- Goose-closes October 3 re-opens October 4-12 and October 18-December 18
- Waterfowl opens October 4 closes October 12 re-opens October 18-December 7
- Pheasant opens October 18 closes December 31
- Rabbit opens October 18 closes February 28
- Youth deer hunt is October 11-12
- Early Antlerless deer hunt October 16-19
- Gun deer November 22-30
- Late Antlerless deer hunt December 1-14
Pheasant and other small game hunters please be aware that during any of the gun deer seasons you will need at least 50% blaze orange to hunt.
Please see hunting regulations and maps. Please check park regulations for opening and closing times.
When pheasant season opens on October 18, dog trainers may not enter the park until 3 p.m. to train. All-terrain vehicle and dirt bike riders may not enter until 2 p.m. on days the trails are open.
Hikers and other non-hunting park users
It is your personal decision whether to use the park during hunting season. There has never been an injury of a non-hunter in the park due to hunting. No rifles or handguns are allowed for hunting, only shotguns. This lowers the chance of injury. However, if you are still uncomfortable you have several options. Wearing blaze orange will make you more visible. You may ride or hike before 9 a.m. or after 2 p.m. There are portions of the horse trail and the hiking trail on the eastern end of the park that are in the “No Hunting” area.
The beach house is closed.
Fishing continues to be good on Vern Wolf Lake. Legal northerns are being caught and bluegills are biting.
Be sure to check out the events pages for all the great programs offered this fall!
Please call Richard Bong State Recreation Area, (262) 878-5600, for daily updates of open/closed trails and other information.
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