Family-Outdoors

Great Lakes Temperature Map Click on the links below to jump to the report section that interests you most: Southeast Lower Peninsula Southwest Lower Peninsula Northeast Lower Peninsula Northwest Lower Peninsula Upper Peninsula This coming  Saturday, April 25  marks the opening day of statewide trout season and the walleye, northern pike and muskellunge opener on the Lower Peninsula inland waters.   SOUTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA The peak of the walleye spawn is about a week later than average so there should be a lot of males still in the rivers.  The opener this weekend should be good as long as we don’t get too much rain.  Want a video snapshot of fishing in this area? Check out the Michigan Fishing Forecast 2015 for the  Southeast Lower Peninsula !  Detroit River:  Continues to have high fishing pressure.  Walleye fishing has been very good with lots of large fish caught. Wind and rain will muddy and make fishing more difficult...

U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt (left) and nature preservationist John MuirPhoto credit: Wikipedia) It has been 100 years since the death of John Muir. A century ago this past Christmas Eve, one of the nation’s most beloved naturalists died from pneumonia in a Los Angeles hospital. Raised on a farm between Montello and Portage, Muir pioneered efforts to create the National Park Service, co-founded the Sierra Club, and authored hundreds of publications. His work inspired a fountain of namesakes on Earth and beyond. Yes, even a main-belt asteroid bears his moniker—128523 Johnmuir. In the decades following his death, Wisconsin served Muir’s legacy proud, rising to become a national leader in environmental protection and natural resource stewardship, delicately balancing these two aims through commonsense, evidence-based solutions. Leaders not only fiercely strove to protect the state’s natural areas but also harness its resource endowments in a measured and sustainable way. Read...

CENTRAL Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's southwest region fisheries crew has been conducting largemouth bass  electrofishing surveys at Lake Lawtonka recently. For more information go to wildlifedepartment.com. Arcadia: April 20. Crappie fair to good on minnows and jigs at 2-5 ft. along riprap. Bass fair to good on swim baits and Alabama rigs at 3-5 ft. along points and coves. Channel and blue catfish fair on punch bait and cut shad near rocky points and near the draw down on the dam. White bass good on rattletraps near boat ramps and along the dam. Report submitted by Mark Murray, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County. Draper: April 19. Elevation above normal, water 62 and stained. Crappie good on minnows and jigs along riprap. White bass fair on jigs and sassy shad at the inlet. Largemouth bass good on plastic baits, topwater lures and spinnerbaits along shorelines, weed beds and coves. Channel and blue catfish fair on cut bait and punch bait in the main ...

We’re just days away from the opening of numerous Michigan fishing seasons – which has many anglers anxious to hit the water. Saturday, April 25  brings the statewide trout season and Lower Peninsula inland walleye, northern pike and muskellunge seasons. Please note, due to recent regulation changes the catch-and-immediate-release season for largemouth and smallmouth bass is now open all year on all waters (unless otherwise closed to fishing). Please note the catch-and-keep seasons for bass will not open until May or June (depending on the specific waterbody being fished).  Are you interested in participating in any of these early seasons? Make sure you’re up to date on all the details before you head out. The chart below will help to get you started! Anglers also need to be aware of all fishing rules and regulations, which are available in the 2015 Michigan Fishing Guide. Pick up a guide at any license retailer or visit the online version at www.eregulations.com/michig...

An annual spring tradition is set to resume in Wisconsin’s woods and fields. While turkey hunting may not quite rival deer hunting in popularity, it’s become one of the state’s true outdoor success stories. Some may find it hard to believe today, but until the late 1970’s seeing a wild turkey in Wisconsin was nearly impossible. Read More Related articles High court rejects Wisconsin appeal over tribal night hunts (fox11online.com)

 Hunters and anglers have an opportunity to enjoy their favorite pastime in an area unlike any other. Extending north from the Elm Fork of the Red River, Sandy Sanders Wildlife Management Area (WMA) covers nearly 30,000 acres of rolling and rugged terrain in southwestern Oklahoma.      Sandy Sanders WMA features a 35-acre reservoir, Doc Hollis Lake that was opened to the public earlier this year. Typical sport fish including bass, catfish and sunfish are present. Anglers should be aware that largemouth bass are catch-and-release only, and boats are prohibited.      Doc Hollis Lake is particularly vulnerable to golden algae due to its salty water and proximity to Lake Altus-Lugert.  By restricting boat use, ODWC is lowering the chance of a fish kill like the one that occurred two years ago at Lake Altus-Lugert caused by golden algae. Golden algae is spread through water trapped in boat livewells, boat hulls, boat motors and trailers. Unlike...

Example of Alaska land owned by people of United States eligible to be transferred to state government and eventually to private ownership  Stung by a recent vote in Congress, national conservation groups are mustering opposition to the increasing call from many western states to transfer federal lands to state control. The U.S. Senate last month narrowly approved a budget amendment sponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, that could set the stage for future legislation to sell or transfer federal lands to state or local governments. Read More

Wolf River (Fox River) (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Dry conditions cause extreme fire danger; sturgeon spawning begins Extremely dry conditions lead to very high fire danger this week, including a rare " red flag warning ," where all outdoor burning is prohibited.  Fire danger remained extremely high  as of  Thursday , with little sign of improving until rain in the forecast this weekend. As of  Thursday  burning permits remained suspended across the state. People are being asked to be very careful with any sources of ignition, including hot exhaust systems, chain saws and discarded smoking materials. Over the past week 127 wildfires burned 696 acres in DNR protection areas, including a fire near Necedah that resulted in the evacuation of 44 homes, none of which were damaged by the fire. Sturgeon spawning has begun on the Wolf River and recent high temperatures, and correspondingly warmer waters are lending toward predictions of a quick, intense run, whi...

The two-day youth spring turkey hunting season will be Saturday and Sunday, April 18-19, 2015, in the Southeast Region of the state. The regular spring turkey season will open Monday, April 20, and continue through May 6 in that region.     The Southeast Region includes the counties of Atoka, Choctaw, Coal, Latimer, Le Flore, McCurtain, Pittsburg and Pushmataha.     Hunters are reminded that there is a one tom turkey season limit for all eight Southeast Region counties combined.     Meanwhile, spring turkey season continues to be open in the remainder of the state. The season bag limit is three tom turkeys. Hunters are allowed two toms in 21 counties, and only one tom in the remaining 48 counties. View of map that depicts spring turkey seasons and bag limits on page 29 of the " Oklahoma Hunting " regulations guide, available online at wildlifedepartment.com or in print where hunting and fishing licenses are sold.     Turkey hunters must pos...

Great Lakes Temperature Map Click on the links below to jump to the report section that interests you most: Southeast Lower Peninsula Southwest Lower Peninsula Northeast Lower Peninsula Northwest Lower Peninsula Upper Peninsula New fishing regulations went into effect on April 9.  Full details are now online in the 2015 Fishing Guide.  Changes include new hook restrictions, changes to the bass season, Great Lakes trout and salmon regulations for Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, and inland trout and salmon regulations regarding brook trout.  To view these changes click here:  2015-2016 Michigan Fishing Regulations Interested in information related to invasive species?  Sign-up for invasive species emails  from the State of Michigan’s Invasive Species Program, co-managed by the departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, Environmental Quality, and Natural Resources.  SOUTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA Lake Erie:   More boats are getting out....