Family-Outdoors

(Photo credit: Leeds Museums and Galleries ) Women's Walleye Fishing June 2 at Linwood Beach Marina and Campground in Linwood All aboard for this half-day walleye fishing experience on Saginaw Bay -you don't want to miss out on this fun in the sun! Introduction to Handgun Shooting June 5 at Detroit Sportsmen's Congress in Utica For women who have never shot a handgun before - all equipment provided. Advanced Archery Class - 3D Shoot June 6 at Caledonia Sportsman's Club in Alto For women who have taken a BOW beginning archery class, or already have archery experience, and would like to sharpen their skills. Class includes a walk through the archery course shooting at various three-dimensional targets of animals, from turkeys to moose. Introduction to Shotgun Shooting June 14 at Saginaw Field and Stream Club in Saginaw For the beginner or the woman who is looking to sharpen her shotgun skills. Learn all of the basics and ...

One of the many rock tunnels inside Custer State Park. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) PIERRE, S.D. – Summer is near, and South Dakota state parks are offering several ways to enjoy time outside on the first weekend in June. During the weekend of June 2, state parks will host several events, including the annual Fort Sisseton Festival, fishing derbies and several nature hikes in honor of National Trails Day. Enjoy one of these weekend events: Fort Sisseton Historical Festival , Fort Sisseton Historic State Park , June 1-3. The West is alive and well at Fort Sisseton during this annual June celebration. Observe cavalry, artillery and infantry demonstrations. The festival includes continuous living history demonstrations, musical entertainment, and food booths. Visit the Rendezvous camp or watch arena events. Kids 11 and under free. Camping available. Info: 605-448-5474 National Trails Day Hike, George S. Mickelson Trail , June 2, 8 a.m. MDT. Join this seven-mile wal...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia) Survey: Lack of time cited as primary reason for dropping out MADISON – While Wisconsin ’s inland trout regulations were cited by some former trout anglers as a reason they dropped the sport, the most frequently cited reason was a lack of time, according to a recently released study of people who had once been trout anglers but hadn’t purchased an inland trout stamp in three years. The study is part of the Department of Natural Resources’ efforts to reach out to user groups to better understand their needs and barriers to enjoying Wisconsin’s outdoors. “The primary reason for angler drop out -- and this is consistent with what we’ve seen across outdoor recreation -- is lack of time, or more specifically, how anglers choose to allocate their time,” says Jordan Petchenik, the DNR researcher who was the principal investigator in the study. Time constraints was cited by over one third (35 percent) of the former anglers as their primary reas...

MADISON – Try fishing for the first time or rediscover the fun during Free Fishing Weekend , June 2 and 3, when anybody can fish anywhere in Wisconsin for free. A fishing license or inland trout stamp or Great Lakes trout stamp are not needed on these days for Wisconsin residents or nonresidents; dozens of free fishing clinics are going on across the state for people to learn to fish; and loaner fishing gear is available at many sites to help anglers try their luck. “Free Fishing Weekend is a great opportunity to spend time with family and friends on the water,” says Theresa Stabo, who directs Wisconsin’s aquatic education. “Fishing’s fun, it’s easy, and it’s cheap, and there are places to go fishing virtually right outside your back door.” Wisconsin has more than 15,000 lakes, 42,000 miles of flowing rivers, and is bordered by two Great Lakes and the Mississippi River . During Free Fishing Weekend, rules governing the number and size of fish anglers can keep are stil...

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) The Department of Natural Resources’ Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program will offer women an opportunity to experience Saginaw Bay walleye fishing on Saturday, June 2, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. All equipment will be provided for this half-day adventure with Captain Jeff Godi of the Michigan -X, Captain Tim Bristol of Fishheads Charters and Captain Dick Donavon of Adventure One. The boats – which each can take four participants – will depart from Linwood Beach Marina and Campground, located at 135 S. Linwood Beach Road in Linwood. Each participant will need a valid fishing license and will be able to take up to five walleye. The cost is $125 per person and includes lunch and fish cleaning, which will be provided at the marina after fishing. For registration forms and information on this and other BOW events, visit www.michigan.gov/bow , email dnr-outdoors-woman@michigan. gov   or call 517-241-2225. Becom...

Stockton Lake and Dam, near Stockton, Missouri, USA (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Celebrate National Trail Day by walking two new trails and experiencing both history and nature in Missouri state parks and historic sites. On Friday, June 1, Missouri State Parks officials will dedicate the new Brogans’ Trail at Fort Davidson State Historic Site in Pilot Knob. The 1 p.m. ceremony will officially open the historic site’s first hiking trail and kick off National Trail Day activities. Brogans’ Trail is a relatively flat one-half mile loop that leads visitors from a new parking lot on the east branch of Knob Creek along the east side of the Battle of Pilot Knob battlefield. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be at the parking lot on Industrial Drive in Pilot Knob and the public is invited to attend. The trail is named for the shoes worn by most Civil War soldiers on both sides of the conflict. A brogan was a heavy laced, usually ankle-high shoe that had the sole attached t...

The Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters to apply for their Michigan elk and bear hunting licenses now through June 1.  Hunters may apply online at www.michigan.gov/huntdrawings or at any retail license agent. There are 200 elk licenses available for the 2012 hunting season, divided evenly between hunts in August/September and December. The August/September hunt is designed to target elk outside the primary elk range before these elk move for the breeding season. The December hunt will occur in the core elk range and also allows additional harvest outside the core area. Only Michigan residents are eligible to apply for an elk license. This includes qualified military personnel and full-time students attending a Michigan college or university who reside in the state during the school year. A total of 7,991 bear licenses are available, about 32 percent fewer than in 2011. License quotas have been reduced in response to new survey data which ind...

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) LANSING, Mich. - Gov. Rick Snyder today declared a state of disaster in the Upper Peninsula counties of Luce and Schoolcraft to make available all state resources to protect public health and safety in ongoing efforts to fight the wildfires already engulfing more than 20,000 acres. The declaration also may permit authorities to evacuate, and establishes a fireworks ban in the two affected counties and an outdoor burning ban in 49 counties. Snyder also issued  Executive Order 2012-8  activating the National Guard to provide assistance. The  declaration , outlined in a proclamation, was requested by the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMHSD). The declaration ensures that all possible resources, in accordance with the Michigan Emergency Management Plan, are provided to assist response efforts in the form of personnel, supplies, equipment, materials and ...

The Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the presence of a cougar in Baraga County in the Upper Peninsula . A photo of the animal was taken by Baraga County resident Fred Nault near Skanee on Saturday, May 5. DNR Wildlife Division staff were contacted by Nault and visited the property on Tuesday, May 15 to verify the location of the camera. "This is the 15th time we have verified the presence of a cougar in the Upper Peninsula since our first confirmation in 2008," said DNR wildlife biologist Adam Bump, who is a member of the Department's specially trained cougar team. "This is the first confirmation in 2012, and the first verified photo of a cougar taken in person and not by a remote camera." The cougar was spotted crossing a road near Skanee by Nault, who had a camera on him and was able to take a photo before the animal fled into the woods. A handful of cougar photos and tracks were also verified by the DNR in the fall and winter ...