Family-Outdoors

Todd W. Bradley of Kismet, Kan., is the newest record holder for pronghorn in the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Cy Curtis Awards Program. His buck, taken Sept. 21, 2006, in Cimarron County, scored 85 points. (Photo Provided) A new Oklahoma-record pronghorn has been certified by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Cy Curtis Awards Program.     The new record holder is Todd W. Bradley of Kismet, Kan. His buck pronghorn taken in Cimarron County in 2006 scored 85 points.     Bradley, 51, was raised in Muskogee and attended Oklahoma State University. He has lived in southwestern Kansas since 1990, and has hunted in Oklahoma most of his life. After many years of submitting his application in the Wildlife Department's Controlled Hunts Program, his name was drawn for a pronghorn hunt in 2006.     Bradley said he secured permission to hunt on land owned by distant kin. He scouted the area the day before, and he spotted the buc...

The Kirtland's warbler is one of the rarest members of the wood warbler family. The only places on Earth it currently nests are mainly in Michigan's northern Lower and Upper peninsulas, and a few locations in Wisconsin and the province of Ontario.   In northern Michigan, June 6-20 is a special time, when dozens of surveyors are in large jack pine forests listening for the unique song of the male Kirtland’s warbler. “We have a great group of DNR, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff members, as well as volunteers, who are trudging through young, thick jack pine in the early morning hours,” said Department of Natural Resources wildlife supervisor Keith Kintigh. “The reward is getting to hear that singing male Kirtland’s warbler, which is the way we actually census the population.” The Kirtland’s warbler census is a tool managers use to compare population numbers relative to recovery goals by listening for the male’s song. Kirtland’s warbler numbers had ...

This painting of a pair of northern pintails by Guy Crittenden of   Richmond, Va., will appear on the 2015-16 Oklahoma Waterfowl Stamp.  The mallard duck is the subject for this year's Oklahoma Waterfowl Stamp design competition. Artists have until 4:30 p.m. Aug. 1 to submit artwork for this prestigious contest that has been conducted by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation since 1980.      The winning artwork will serve as the design for the 2016-17 Oklahoma Waterfowl Stamp, which is purchased by waterfowl hunters in the state and collectors nationwide. The winning artist will receive a $1,200 purchase award courtesy of NatureWorks, a Tulsa-based conservation organization.      "This is really much more than an art contest," said Micah Holmes, information supervisor for the Wildlife Department. "When waterfowl hunters purchase that stamp, they are doing their part in conserving wildlife and preserving the sport of hunting. St...

Rain continues to keep water levels high across state Water levels across the state are abnormally high, as rains continue to drench counties north and south. Water levels have dropped some on the lower Wisconsin River but most sandbars remain submerged, which may inconvenience potential campers. Rainfall has dropped surface water temperatures on lakes and in some areas these heavy rains have reduced clarity in lakes, streams and rivers while increasing water flow. The rain and fast water have put a slight damper on fishing efforts. Regardless, fishing activity has picked up significantly on lakes across the state. In the north, most largemouth and smallmouth bass have completed their spawning period, though some males can still be found guarding their schools of young fish. Anglers are reminded that the smallmouth bass season opens in the Northern Zone this Saturday, June 20. Musky have proved tricky to find and reports of perch success paint a "hit or miss" picture....

NORTHWEST Yellow Smoke Park Lake An electrofishing survey was conducted on 5-29-15. Bluegill up to 9.5 inches and largemouth bass up to 15 inches were collected. Several crappies were also sampled. Water clarity is good. Bluegill - Good: With high water clarity, bluegill can be seen guarding nests along shore in 1-4 feet of water. Work these areas with a small jig tipped with crawler fished under a bobber. Anchor the boat away from bluegill nests and cast into them to avoid spooking fish. If fish are spooked, continue fishing the shorelines and work your way back after the fish have had time to return to the nests. Expect to catch 8-9 inch bluegill using this method. Brushy Creek Lake Walleye - Good: Successful anglers are fishing with leeches in about 15-20 feet of water. Bluegill - Good: Bluegills are being caught on beds using wax worms, leeches, and crawlers fished in about 4-8 feet of water. Black Crappie - Fair: A few crappies have been picked up in 15-20 feet of wa...

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 The catch and keep bass season on Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair River, the Detroit River and the Michigan-Wisconsin Boundary Waters will open this coming Saturday, June 20 and anglers should do well.  Heavy rain and windy conditions have scattered fish in the Great Lakes and caused higher water levels on the inland lakes and rivers which make fishing conditions a little more difficult.   SOUTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA Lake Erie:  Walleye were caught by those trolling crawler harnesses around Stony Point and the West Sister Islands in Ohio waters.  Most were using chartreuse and pink harnesses but some had luck with spoons.  Look for walleye fishing to be better in the deeper waters in Ohio.  Perch were caught by those bottom...