Family-Outdoors

Image via Wikipedia PIERRE, S.D. – Winter is a beautiful time to explore the Black Hills , and what better way than snowshoeing on the George S. Mickelson Trail? The trail will host four snowshoe hikes this winter. Hikes will be held at 1 p.m. MST on Jan. 7 and Jan. 21. Both will start at the Englewood Trailhead. Snowshoe hikes also will be held Feb. 4 and Feb. 25 at 1 p.m., with the location yet to be determined, based on snow conditions. Call the Black Hills Trails Office at  605-584-3896  for more information and the location of those hikes. Staff will teach basic snowshoeing skills while leading a nature walk along the trail. “We have a limited number of snowshoes available for participants to use,” said Dana Garry, Mickelson Trail manager. “We have had great turnouts for snowshoe hikes in the past, so it’s important to sign up early to make sure you get a pair. There is no previous experience needed. If you can walk, you can snowshoe!” “We’d also like ...

Image via Wikipedia MADISON – One hundred ten thousand people can't be wrong. That's how many more Wisconsinites are ice fishing these days than a decade ago, according to results from a recently released national recreation survey. "Clearly more people are getting interested in ice fishing in Wisconsin, which is great," says Mike Staggs, Wisconsin's fisheries director. "It's a low cost way to try fishing or to extend your season if you're a veteran open water angler. It's as easy as drilling a hole -- or finding a hole someone else left behind -- and using some basic equipment to catch some fish for dinner." An estimated 590,700 Wisconsinites 16 and over report they ice fish, up from 479,900 in 2000, according to the most recent National Survey on Recreation and the Environment. Department of Natural Resources staff are using results from the federally funded survey and other studies to develop its 2011-2016 Statewide Comprehen...

Image via Wikipedia Experience a fun and exciting way to enjoy winter at a “snowshoeing for beginners” class at Lac qui Parle State Park on Saturday, Jan, 21, from 1 to 3 p.m. Snowshoeing is one of winter’s easiest types of recreation to learn and can be fun for all ages, alone or in groups. As a low impact workout, snowshoeing can burn more calories than running, cycling or cross country skiing. The course will begin with a brief talk and then participants will put on their snowshoes and take a beautiful and exhilarating winter hike. A limited supply of snowshoe rentals are available. There is no charge for the course, but pre-registration is required and limited to 20 participants. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Vehicles entering the park are required to have a Minnesota State Park permit ($5 daily or $25 year-round), which can be purchased at the park. Contact Cara Greger at Lac qui Parle State Park, 320-734-4450, ext. 225, for more inf...

DES MOINES―Ring in the New Year by taking a hike in an Iowa state park. Three Iowa state parks are participating in the national First Day Hikes event held in all 50 states Jan. 1. America’s State Parks First Day Hikes offer individuals and families an opportunity to begin the New Year rejuvenating and connecting with the outdoors by taking a healthy hike on Jan. 1, 2012, at a state park. “This is a good opportunity for Iowans to start the year off by reconnecting with their state park during a time of year when most of our visitors are staying inside,” said Kevin Szcodronski, chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources State Parks Bureau. “Parks offer a completely different experience in the winter, from hiking or skiing on our trails, to ice fishing and even winter camping.” The DNR has events planned at Walnut Woods, near Des Moines, Dolliver in Webster County and Mines of Spain near Dubuque. Participants should dress for the weather and may want to bring binoculars, a...

Image via Wikipedia DES MOINES—Colder temperatures and the inevitable snow doesn’t shut down the outdoor season for many of us. We just shift gears. Iowans spend more than $300 million each year watching wildlife, for everything from seed to feeders or binoculars , even wildlife-watching trips. As the snow flies, though, most of that money and time is spent filling bird feeders and watching the winter show as birds work yards into their daily feeding regimen. “It’s just the connection people get with something so beautiful, right in their backyards. It’s a great way to appreciate nature,” explains Pat Schlarbaum of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources wildlife diversity program. “If you enjoy songbirds, you can draw them right up to your picture window.” For the widest variety of birds, offer different seeds and other foods. The number one attraction, though, is black oil sunflower seed.  Everything from cardinals to nuthatches and chickadees, even bluejays and hair...

Image via Wikipedia Thirty-eight candlelit skiing, snowshoeing or hiking events are being offered by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) this winter at state parks and trails throughout Minnesota. The family-friendly events are typically held on candlelit trails that are short and flat, which are suitable for all ages and abilities. Participants can enjoy refreshments and the warmth of a fire after exploring trails lined with candle luminaries or lanterns. The schedule of events features a New Year’s Eve walk at Fort Snelling State Park and a Valentine’s Day snowshoe outing at Wild River State Park. Families can rent or check out equipment at some parks, but calling ahead to check availability and reserving the equipment is advised. Families are also encouraged to check out the  Winter Activities page . Before skiers make tracks to the trails, they will need a  Minnesota Ski Pass   if they are 16 or older. Also, those who don’t already have a  Min...

Midwest Regional Director Tom Melius and Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Chairman Stanley R. Crooks meet to discuss Native American Youth Conservation Initiative An update meeting was held on the Native American Youth Conservation Initiative at the SMSC Community Center on November 22, 2011. In attendance were (left to right): American Indian Institute for Innovation Chief Executive Officer and founder Stacy Phelps, SMSC Gaming Enterprise Chairman of the Board of Directors Charlie Vig, SMSC Chairman Stanley Crooks, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Midwest Regional Director Tom Melius, Community member Rebecca Crooks, and SMSC Gaming Enterprise CEO and President Ed Stevenson.  Photo credit: Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (Service) Midwest Regional Director Tom Melius and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community's (SMSC) Chairman Stanley Crooks met on Tuesday November 22 at the SMSC in Prior Lake, Minn. to discuss the Nati...

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Becoming an Outdoors -Woman program has scheduled one-day winter workshops Jan. 26-27 at Cross Ranch State Park, Center, and Feb. 24, 25 and 26 at Lake Metigoshe State Park, Bottineau. Cross-country skiing (Jan. 26) and snowshoeing (Jan. 27) will be offered at Cross Ranch. Lake Metigoshe offers a variety of classes. A class on dog sledding for first-timers only is available all three days with a limit of six participants per session (this class fills quickly).  Snowshoeing and tracking, winter survival and cross-country skiing are available Feb. 25 and 26. Women interested in the workshops are encouraged to  register online  at the Game and Fish website,  gf.nd.gov . Those interested should sign up immediately, as each class is limited to 12 participants. The cost is $75 for dog sledding and $50 for the other classes. Sign up for a class on two days and receive a $15 discount. Preregistration with payment is...

Image via Wikipedia In the light of a near tragedy in Anoka County this weekend, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is reminding parents to caution their children to stay off ponds, streams and other water bodies that now have a thin coating of ice. Sunday afternoon, an eight-year-old Oak Grove boy fell through a thin coating of ice on a small neighborhood pond. He was rescued after about 15 minutes in the icy water and treated at the hospital. “Kids are attracted to ice like a magnet,” said Tim Smalley, DNR boat and water safety specialist. “They just don’t know how much ice it takes to support a person, nor what is or isn’t safe.” As of Nov. 21, no ice in Minnesota has been reported by DNR conservation officers as consistently four inches thick, the recommended minimum thickness for walking and small group activities. Ice safety guidelines also recommend a minimum of five inches of new, clear ice for snowmobiles and ATVs, and eight to 12 inches for automo...

Image via Wikipedia The Department of Natural Resources will offer a "Winter Discovery Weekend" - designed to give women an opportunity to try a variety of outdoor skills in a fun, safe and non-competitive environment - Jan 27-29 at the Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center in Roscommon. The event is part of the DNR's Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program, and classes are geared toward beginners, with no skill level required. Participants choose three classes from among several topics offered, including ice fishing , self-defense basics, wilderness first aid, snowshoeing, hiking, turkey and duck hunting and basic pistol shooting. Guests should plan to arrive Friday evening between 4 and 9 p.m. On Saturday, guests participate in morning and afternoon classes (three hours each) with breakfast, lunch and dinner provided as part of the paid package. All sessions are taught by experienced volunteer instructors who enjoy the outdoors and have a true desire to sh...

Image via Wikipedia When Minnesota’s firearms deer hunting season opens Saturday, Nov. 5, many people who would like to hunt won’t. Why? No one invited them. “A lot of men, women and children will be sitting on a couch instead of a stand because no one has offered to take them hunting,” said Jenifer Wical, a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) customer relations manager. “This year, we’re encouraging hunters to invite a buddy to camp because it is not always about the buck, it’s about friends, family and making memories that last a lifetime.” Years ago, it was more difficult to introduce someone new to hunting because of certain firearms safety requirements. Today, firearms safety is still required for those born after Dec. 31, 1979, but Minnesota offers a two-year exemption when certain safety precautions are followed. As a result, it’s easier to introduce someone new to hunting, even on the spur of the moment. “Many deer camps are changing,” said Wi...

Image via Wikipedia I am not a bowhunter...yet.  Therefore, I am not spending much time out in the woods hunting deer right now, but I have been thinking about it a lot.  One part of this is the time I spent shooting my brother-in-laws bow a couple of weeks ago.  It really got me wishing I had one and I could spend any extra evening time I had out in the woods. I say evening time, because there just has not been one moment of slack time on weekends.  With two kids in college right now, and one an athlete, we have spent a lot of time the past month or two making visits and going to cross-country meets.  It's funny that just a few months ago, I was so worried that I was not going to have enough to do with both sons in college...I almost wish that were true now. Over the next couple of weeks, we will be transitioning to spending some time in the woods scouting and getting ready for Fall firearms deer season in Missouri.  I enjoy the getting ready darn near...

A beautiful day of fishing on Huzzah Creek in Missouri's Ozarks. Fishing was okay...it didn't matter! Related articles Fall in the Ozarks (fishingintheozarks.blogspot.com) A Young Man's Story of What Deer Hunting Means to Him (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Lists the Ozark Hellbender as Endangered (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com) Final sampling of Lake of the Ozarks study finds no elevated E. Coli levels 2011 geometric mean lowest of five-year study (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com) Most of Missouri remains zebra-mussel free (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)