Family-Outdoors

Clifty Falls, Clifty Falls State Park, Indiana (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Select Indiana state parks will close temporarily to allow for controlled deer reductions on  Dec. 2 and 3 .  The state parks affected are Brown County, Chain O’Lakes, Charlestown, Clifty Falls, Fort Harrison, Harmonie, Indiana Dunes, Lincoln, McCormick’s Creek, Ouabache, Pokagon, Potato Creek, Prophetstown, Shades, Shakamak, Spring Mill, Summit Lake, Tippecanoe River, Turkey Run, Versailles, and Whitewater Memorial.  These state parks will close to the general public the evening before each of the two efforts and reopen the morning after each two-day reduction.  Read more Related articles Opening-weekend deer harvest blown away (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)

For more than 120 years  Carhartt  has had a place on Michigan’s map. Recently, the company came on board as a prize-package sponsor of the Department of Natural Res ources’ (DNR) Pure Michigan Hunt – a sponsorship that helps to support hunting and wildlife management in Michigan. “Carhartt is a perfect partner for the Pure Michigan Hunt,” said DNR wildlife technician Katie Keen. “With headquarters in Michigan and as the largest producer of work wear in the U.S., Carhartt is a perfect fit with its new camo clothing line.” Carhartt will donate its new, quilt-lined Realtree Xtra® or Mossy Oak Break-up Infinity® jackets and also Realtree Xtra® quilt-lined bib overalls to the next round of prize packages for Pure Michigan Hunt winners.  Every year, three lucky hunters will each win a hunting prize package valued at more than $4,000. This year’s package includes elk and bear hunting licenses, a Darton Archery crossbow package, 30.06 rifles from Michigan Gun Owners, 12 gauge sh...

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 River anglers are out however others are getting their ice fishing gear ready to go as they wait for the transition from open water to ice fishing. Some of the lakes are starting to get skim ice however there is no safe ice yet. SOUTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA Lake Erie:  Bluegills are being caught in the Metro Park Marina. For perch, try near Fermi and Stony Point. Huron River:  Continues to produce steelhead. Detroit River:  Walleye are being caught in the lower Trenton Channel. Try hand-lining with rapalas or long-lining with husky jerks. Perch anglers are targeting Rat Island, Sugar Island and Stony Point. SOUTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA St. Joseph:  Had good steelhead fishing for pier and shore anglers. Whitefish are in around th...

Tim Blackwell caught a nice 4.6 pound rainbow trout at Lake Pawhuska. CENTRAL Hefner : November 25. Elevation dropping, water 45-48 and clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair on crankbaits. White bass fair on 8-15 ft. at the dam. Striped bass hybrids fair on white grubs at 8-15 ft. along the dam. Channel and blue catfish good on cut bait along the dam. Crappie fair on minnows and white jigs at 20-24 ft. around docks and the dam. Walleye fair on grubs at 8-12 ft. along the dam. Report submitted by Lucky Lure Tackle. Overholser : November 25. Elevation normal, water 38 and clear to murky. All fishing slow. Report submitted by Jarrod Davis, game warden stationed in Oklahoma and Canadian counties. Wes Watkins : November 25. All fishing slow. Report submitted by Mike France, game warden stationed in Pottawatomie County. NORTHEAST Birch : November 25. All fishing slow. Report submitted by David Clay, game warden stationed in Osage County. Copan : November 26. Elevat...

Duck season is currently open statewide. For zone maps and complete waterfowl hunting regulations, log on to  wildlifedepartment.com .   NORTHWEST   Canton - Zone 1 : Water level is 13.1 feet below normal. Native vegetation is in good condition, but currently not flooded. Winter wheat around the area is mostly planted and in good condition. Duck numbers are fair. Goose numbers are good. Hunting activity was moderate on the weekend and low on weekdays. Hunting success was fair. The NW portion of the lake is dry, and the only usable boat ramp is at the Canadian Campground day-use area. Fort Supply - Zone 1 : Water level is normal. Habitat conditions are fair; some native food is available around the lake. Local winter wheat is in mostly fair condition. Duck and goose numbers are good. Hunting activity and success not reported, as the area is closed to hunting. Duck numbers increased over this past weekend with recent cold front. Goose numbers are fair. *** NOTE: Fo...

Ice Ledge (Photo credit: Bob.Fornal ) State Game and Fish Department officials are cautioning hunters to be wary of where they hunt, as late-season weather is freezing North Dakota’s small and mid-sized waters, giving the appearance of safe foot travel. Nancy Boldt, department boat and water safety coordinator, said hunters should be cautious of walking on frozen stock ponds, sloughs, creeks and rivers. Ice thickness is not consistent, Boldt said, as it can vary significantly within a few inches. Hunters walking the edge of a cattail slough will not find the same ice thickness in the middle. “The edges firm up faster than the center,” she added. “So, with your first step the ice might seem like it is strong enough, but it may not be anywhere near solid enough once you progress away from the shoreline.” And in the case of snowfall, Boldt cautions hunters to be aware of snow-covered ice. Snow insulates ice, inhibiting solid ice formation, and makes it difficult to check ...

Quail season has not been open very long, but early reports from the field indicate that conditions have improved over the previous two years that were stricken by record heat and drought.           According to Scott Cox, upland game bird biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, hunting has been reportedly good in certain areas, even amid what he believes were poor to fair scenting conditions for bird dogs.           "Coveys were found, covey sizes were good, age structure was good, birds were healthy, crops were full of good forbs," Cox said.           Hunters were even reportedly harvesting birds as young as six weeks old. Birds were also known to be on nests as late as October.           Cox said that it's been common for groups of hunters to see about four to five coveys each, with covey sizes ranging from about 12-18 birds. He estimates hunters are harv...

Hunters, there’s still time to enter the Consumers Energy-sponsored Wetland Wonders Challenge this waterfowl season. The contest began  Oct. 12  and runs until  Jan. 31, 2014 . Michigan's Wetland Wonders are the seven premier Managed Waterfowl Hunt Areas (MWHAs) in the state: Fennville Farm Unit at the Allegan State Game Area (Allegan County), Fish Point State Wildlife Area (Tuscola County), St. Clair Flats State Wildlife Area on Harsens Island (St. Clair County), Muskegon County Wastewater Facility (Muskegon County), Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area (Bay County), Pointe Mouillee State Game Area (Monroe and Wayne counties) and Shiawassee River State Game Area (Saginaw County). These areas provide exceptional waterfowl hunting opportunities throughout the hunting season. Managed duck hunting runs through  Dec. 8  at most of the MWHAs; however, the Fennville Farm Unit and Muskegon Wastewater Facility have managed goose hunting opportunities even later. Can...

Drought relief and the most mild summer temperatures recorded in years have improved upland habitat this year, and that's good news for pheasants. Brood count surveys showed an increase of about 20 percent from last year, which should improve hunting opportunities for sportsmen headed to the field for the  Dec. 1  pheasant season opener.      Brood count surveys take place in August. They help biologist with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation determine how many young pheasants survived the summer.       "These brood count surveys are the primary means we use to help us understand the annual population status of pheasant and to give us an idea of what the hunting season may be like," said Scott Cox, upland game bird biologist for the Wildlife Department. "And thankfully, the results are up this year."      Biologists attribute the improved brood count survey results to better available habitat thanks to ...

Recently, game wardens with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation wrapped up an important case that proves illegal hunting activity just isn't worth the cost.           In the landmark case - completed in October 2013 - a total of 73 wildlife violation charges were filed against 13 individuals who pleaded guilty in both Oklahoma and Arkansas courts, mostly for crimes involving the illegal killing of deer and obtaining fraudulent hunting licenses. They paid a total of $22,356 in state fines and court costs with no restitution, including over $10,306 paid for 18 charges filed in Oklahoma and $12,050 for 55 charges filed in Arkansas. In both states combined, only two charges were dismissed. Those charged were members of private hunting leases in southeast Oklahoma and adjoining leases in Arkansas.           The case began in June 2012, when McCurtain Co. game warden Kenny Lawson was contacted by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser...

Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers are seeking information regarding a bear poaching incident that occurred in the evening of Nov. 16 in northeast Manistee County. A trail camera photo provided to the DNR by witnesses shows a bear sow and three cubs seen in the vicinity of the Manistee County poaching incident. Conservation officers were called to investigate the shooting of a female black bear, found dead of a shotgun wound near a hunting blind on public land in Cleon Township. Witnesses said that the bear had been killed on Nov. 16 at approximately 5:30 p.m. Three bear cubs are believed to have been orphaned as a result of the bear being killed, although the cubs were not located. Conservation officers are seeking to interview a white male who was spotted at the scene on Nov. 16. The male is believed to be involved in the killing and is described as having a thin build, standing approximately 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall. The male had fa...

Lahonton National Fish Hatchery (Photo credit: USFWS Pacific Southwest Region ) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) today announced that it does not intend to close any of the nation’s national fish hatcheries in the current fiscal year, but warned that closures may be necessary in FY 2015 given fiscal uncertainty and growing operations costs.  The Service released a report today examining the challenges facing the Service’s National Fish Hatchery System (NFHS), which will serve as the basis of discussions with stakeholders on how best to operate the system in a more sustainable manner while supporting the agency’s highest fish and aquatic conservation priorities. “This report sounds the alarm on a hatchery system unable to meet its mission responsibilities in the current budget climate,” said Service Director Dan Ashe.  “In the coming months through the 2015 budget process, I have directed the Service to work with all of our partners to determine whether the opti...