Family-Outdoors

(Photo credit: Wikipedia ) COLUMBUS, OH - Ohioans are encouraged to take advantage of "Free Fishing Days" on May 5-6 and experience the great fishing Ohio has to offer. For these two days only, Ohio anglers may fish in any of the state's public waters without having to buy a fishing license. During the rest of the year, anglers 16 years and older are required to have a valid fishing license to take fish, frogs or turtles from Ohio waters. An Ohio fishing license is one of the best recreation bargains available, costing only $19 a year for residents. Ohio residents born on or before Dec. 31, 1937, can obtain a free fishing license at any license vendor. Residents age 66 and older who were born on or after Jan. 1, 1938, are eligible to obtain a reduced cost senior fishing license for $10. A one-day fishing license is also available for $11, an amount that later can be applied toward the cost of an annual fishing license. Fishing licenses are availabl...

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) MILWAUKEE -- Lake Michigan anglers in 2011 recorded the highest harvest of coho salmon in three decades and the third highest on record since the state started stocking salmon and trout in the 1960s, according to recently released results from angler surveys. "Coho fishing for Wisconsin anglers on Lake Michigan last year was the best it's been since 1982," says Brad Eggold, Department of Natural Resources fisheries supervisor for Southern Lake Michigan. "Boaters were fishing hard for coho from April to early August and focused on these abundant and easily catchable fish." The 2011 season for coho salmon ran much longer than previous years and the fish were close to shore and easily accessible by most boat anglers, Eggold says. Those factors helped propel this year's estimated harvest to 157,367 coho, more than triple the 42,445 coho harvested the previous year. The coho harvest total also was the third highe...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia ) The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is implementing camping restrictions effective immediately on some wildlife management areas in western North Dakota and along Lake Sakakawea. Overnight camping is now prohibited on the following WMAs: Antelope Creek, Big Oxbow, Lewis and Clark, Neu’s Point, Ochs Point, Overlook, Sullivan and Tobacco Garden in McKenzie County; Van Hook in Mountrail County; and Hofflund and Trenton in Williams County. The following WMAs are closed to camping on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but open to camping Thursday-Monday: Audubon, Custer Mine, Deepwater Creek, deTrobriand, Douglas Creek and Wolf Creek in McLean County; and Beaver Creek and Hille in Mercer County. Game and Fish does not operate any official campgrounds, but most WMAs are open to primitive camping for 10 consecutive days. However, the agency does not have any staff manning the areas where people like to camp, and there is no registration ...

Spring is coming to the Midwest and so are hundreds of thousands of birds looking for a summer home. Bank swallows - the smallest swallows in North America - are among them and they are actively looking for places to nest and raise their young. You can help protect these gregarious birds by keeping an eye out for their nesting colonies across the region. Bank swallows live in low areas along rivers, streams or reservoirs. Their territories usually include vertical cliffs or banks. Though in the past, bank swallows were most commonly found around natural bluffs or eroding streamside banks, more and more often these swallows populate human-made sites, such as road banks, construction sites and landscaping borrow sites. Social and always active, these small brown and white birds nest in colonies sometimes numbering in the thousands and quickly colonize these sites before landowners may realize. Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, bank swallows and their nesting sites are...

. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) AKRON, OH – Young anglers from ages 10 to 15 are invited to attend a fly fishing class for beginners which be held at Wildlife District Three in Akron. Participants will have the opportunity to learn the basic skills needed to cast flies followed by an actual opportunity to catch fish in the Youth Fishing Area. Interested participants can choose to register for one class from the following dates:  May 2nd, 16th, or 30th. All classes will be held from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. An adult must accompany the participant for the program, but will not be able to participate in the class. Spaces are limited to 10 anglers per class so pre-registration is a must. Call or email Ken Fry, Division of Wildlife, at (330) 245-3030 or Kenneth.Fry@dnr.state.oh.us Related articles Free Coyote Hunting/Trapping Workshop in Akron Illinois River Fly Fishing School opens additional course this month Free Fly-Fishing Clinic Offered for Youth-Only Beginners ...

Iowa Department of Natural Resources logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Camping kickoff weekend is May 4, 5 and 6, in Iowa state parks, and has often been the first weekend trip for many campers, but the mild winter and summer-like spring has many campers already in mid-season mode. “Camping kickoff weekend is our way of saying let’s dust off the tent and camper and enjoy some camaraderie in a state park, but after this unseasonably warm weather, it seems like a lot of our campers already have a month of camping under their belts,” said Kevin Szcodronski, chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources State Parks Bureau.  Campers can reserve a site for camping kickoff weekend using the reservation system online at http://iowastateparks. reserveamerica.com/   or select a non-reservable site. “This time of year is really nice in the parks because the bugs are typically not out in force yet and fishing is good,” Szcodronski said.  In the past, the DN...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Birds play a significant ecological, economic and cultural role in our lives. Success in recovering endangered bird populations — and those of so many other imperiled species — depends on collaboration. A key part of the effort to recover these species has been our partnerships with state and local governments, other federal agencies, non-government organizations and private citizens who come together with a shared mission to conserve birds and the habitat they depend on. The latest edition of the Endangered Species Bulletin highlights the work of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists and partners to ensure that future generations may continue to enjoy the many benefits that birds bring to our lives. Here is a sampling of stories in this edition:        Holly Freifeld, Sheldon Plentovich, Chris Farmer and George Wallace write about the historic effort to create a second population of the Nihoa Millerbird on Hawaii...

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Endangered Species Coalition, Association of Zoos and Aquariums and Ogden Museum of Southern Art/University of New Orleans proudly announce the winners of the 2012 Endangered Species Day Youth Art Contest.  The art contest is an integral part of the seventh annual national Endangered Species Day on May 18, 2012. “The level of quality and record number of submissions from over 2,100 immensely talented children across the country is inspiring,” said Service Director Dan Ashe. “Through art, students are using their imaginations and learning about threatened and endangered species. This creates an enthusiasm for wildlife, instilling a love for nature and the desire to learn how to protect it.” Young artists from throughout the country entered the annual contest, which is an ideal opportunity to learn about and promote the conservation of endangered species through art. The winners are: Grand Prize: Sky Waters (...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia ) The Department of Natural Resources encourages hunters to participate in the upcoming spring wild turkey season, which runs April 23 through May 31. Michigan's current turkey population is estimated at over 200,000 birds, and turkey hunters here are fortunate to have one of the longest turkey seasons nationwide. Michigan ranks sixth in the nation for turkey harvest and is rated as having high-quality turkey hunting. "This spring, there are many hunting options and opportunities for people to choose from, and turkey numbers are generally good across the state," said Al Stewart, DNR upland game bird specialist. Michigan residents can purchase a spring turkey license for $15, while seniors can purchase a spring turkey license for $6. To purchase a license, go to www.mdnr-elicense.com or visit any license agent. Hunt No. 234 is a great choice for hunters who want maximum flexibility. This hunt includes all areas of the s...

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) COLUMBUS, OH – Teachers, scout leaders, naturalists, and other formal and non-formal educators interested in conservation and environmental education should consider attending a Project WILD workshop, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. Project WILD is a supplementary education program emphasizing awareness, appreciation, and understanding of wildlife and natural resources.  Attractive and easy to use, Project WILD is an ideal way to supplement your curriculum and fire the imagination of your students.  Project WILD teaches young people how to think about wildlife, not what to think.  The hands-on, diverse activities help develop problem-solving and decision making skills in determining responsible human actions. The next workshop in central Ohio is being offered on Wednesday, May 23rd at the District 1 Office, located at 1500 Dublin Road Columbus Ohio 43215.  The wo...