Family-Outdoors

A candlelight ski, snowshoe, and hike will be held at Rice Lake State Park on Saturday, Feb. 4, from 6-9 p.m. A warming shelter, campfire, baked goods, and hot drinks will be offered to all those who attend. More than 300 luminaries will light one and a half miles of trail that will begin at the boat launch parking lot and run near the lake’s shoreline, through the woods and return to the boat launch area. Another half mile of trail will be lit for those wishing to hike or snowshoe. The event, which has been held since at least the 1990s, is organized by the Friends of Rice Lake State Park. The volunteer group has been active for many years at the park and serves as a support team for park operations. Besides the annual candlelight ski, the volunteers perform fall and spring clean up days, conduct fundraising and act as an advocacy group in support of Minnesota state parks. People who wish to rent skis, should call the Warsinski Chalet at 507-451-9850. Snowshoes will be available for r...

Image via Wikipedia Infrastructure projects provide opportunities for outdoor recreation , create jobs WASHINGTON -- Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced more than $7.5 million in competitive grants to 10 states for 11 projects to support recreational boating through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Boating Infrastructure Grant program. “Recreational boaters and anglers contribute to our nation’s thriving outdoor recreation economy and play an important role in conservation of our rivers, watersheds and oceans,” Secretary Salazar said. “These competitive grants will help provide quality opportunities and access to America’s great outdoors for our nation’s boaters and anglers, while creating jobs by funding major construction projects to build docks, boat slips and facilities.” Outdoor recreation, including boating and fishing, contribute an estimated $730 billion to the U.S. economy each year, Salazar noted. The Service will also release approximately $2.5 mill...

Minnesota state parks and state trails will host 38 candlelight events this winter, including a hike and snowshoe event from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, at Afton State Park in Hastings. This popular family friendly event will provide an opportunity to snowshoe or hike on trails illuminated by the warm glow of candles. Visitors can warm up around a fire and roast marshmallows or enjoy a hot drink. The candlelit trail at Afton State Park is three miles and suitable for beginner-level snowshoers and hikers. Call 651-436-5391for information about equipment rental. Those who don’t already have a Minnesota state parks vehicle permit ($5 for a one-day permit or $25 for a year-round permit) can purchase one at the park. If there is not enough snow for snowshoes, the trail will still be illuminated for hiking. In case of bad weather, this event may be changed or canceled. For more information, including event details, weather updates and directions to the park, call 651-436-5391 or visi...

Event reimbursement, electronic applications ease the process for clubs MADISON -- Now's the time for hunters and conservation groups to start planning Learn to Turkey Hunt events for spring, and a streamlined application process, reimbursement for costs, and options for insurance make it easier than ever to get started. "Now is the time to step up to the challenge to protect your hunting heritage," says Keith Warnke, hunting and shooting sport coordinator for the Department of Natural Resources. "Sponsoring a Learn to Hunt event is a great way to help new people experience hunting and we've made it easier to do. Ashley Wery, left, got a 24.8-pound tom on her first wild turkey hunt in 2011 in Door County. Friend Chloe Volkman, right, talked Wery into the hunting trip after Volkman enjoyed a 2010 Learn to Hunt class and got her first tom that year. WDNR Photo "We’ve streamlined the application process and have made it so you can fill out many of t...

PARK FALLS, Wis. -- Beginning Friday, Jan. 27, 2012, the  gray wolf  will no longer be considered a federally endangered species in Wisconsin and other parts of the western Great Lakes region. In Wisconsin, the state Department of Natural Resources will manage the wolf population outside of tribal reservation lands. DNR officials said areas where wolves have attacked domestic animals will be addressed immediately. DNR will take over management of the gray wolf in Wisconsin outside of reservations. This photo is of a captive gray wolf at the MacKenzie Environmental Education Center. Wisconsin Wildlife Federation Photo “We’ve been fighting hard to gain this authority, and we are grateful to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for removing gray wolves in the upper Midwest from the lists of endangered and threatened species,” said DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp. “We are ready and capable of managing Wisconsin’s wolf population at a healthy, sustainable level and we welcome the...

Image via Wikipedia (*Saturday) indicates events with a Friday school day Mississippi River Visitor Center , Quad Cities January 14 - February 12, Weekends Only Combination eagle watches and clock tower tours Saturday and Sunday times are 9:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. Reservations required. Group size is limited. Call  309-794-5338 Quincy Bald Eagle Watch Saturday, January 28 Outdoor viewing at Lock and Dam 21 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more information call  217-228-0890 Muscatine Bald Eagle Watch Saturday, January 28 Outdoor viewing from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Illinois Boat Club Live eagle programs at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. at Pearl City Station For more information call  563-263-7913 Des Moines Lunch with Eagles Friday, Feb. 24 Scott St. Dam, 303 Scott Ave., 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Outdoor viewing in downtown Des Moines For more information call  515-865-6564 Prairie du Chien Eagle Watch Saturday, Feb. 25 Outdoor viewing from 9 a...

VOLGA, S.D. –  Oakwood Lake State Park  will host the Kool Kids’ Klassic Fishing Derby and the Groundhog Day Cross-Country Ski Tour on Jan. 28 and 29, respectively. Children under age 14 are invited to take part in the Kool Kids’ Klassic Ice Fishing Derby. Registration for the derby is $2 and will take place at the park shop at 11 a.m. The first 150 entries will receive a free fishing pole made by park staff. Bait is furnished and event staff will drill holes in the ice as needed. Fishing will take place in designated areas from 12. to 2 p.m., with weigh-in to follow. Winners will be announced at the award ceremony at 3 p.m. Snacks will be available throughout the day, and numerous door prize drawings will be held. On Jan. 29, the 32nd Annual Groundhog Day Cross-Country Ski Race and the Sons of Norway Barnelopet Children's Ski Run features a 5 kilometer non-competitive poker run, a 10 kilometer competitive race and a kick sled race. A registration fee of $8 for adults an...

We have a lot of  SHOT Show Video Interviews  coming out today, so I’m going to keep on rolling them out as quick as I can.  Here we have our second  interview with Nikon  representative Jon LaCorte.  Jon shows Steve two new rangefinders displayed by  Nikon  at SHOT Show.  Both models are part of the  Nikon ProStaff  line of products, and will give you quality performance at a great price. Watch as Jon first shows off the  Nikon Prostaff 3 Rangefinder .  With one button operation, it doesn’t get much easier to operate, and it has a very fast processor for quick range finding.  This is really important when you’re out hunting and finally spot a buck after hours of waiting.  You won’t want to miss that shot because you were waiting for the rangefinder to figure out the distance.  It has a great range of about 550 yards, and the optics are nice and bright, so you’ll have no trouble seeing your intended ta...