Family-Outdoors

  A new state record rainbow trout was caught recently from Lake Watonga at Roman Nose State Park, reminding Oklahomans that this non-native, cold-water fish is in season and providing plenty of angling action across the state.      On Nov. 17, Mark Reed of Blanchard caught the 10-lb., 10.56-oz. rainbow, breaking the nearly half-century-old state record of Billy Payne, who caught his 10-lb., 4-oz. trout from the Illinois River in July of 1966.      Reed's fish was 27 3/4 inches in length and 17 1/2 inches in girth. He caught the fish from the west side of the lake using a copper-colored Super Duper 502 with a red head.       "Mr. Reed asked his sons to accompany him to Roman Nose State Park," said Keith Thomas, central region fisheries biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation who certified the record. "They turned him down - too cold and wanted to sleep in. They're kicking themselves now." ...

Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County in southeast Oklahoma, has been named the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Game Warden of the Year for 2013 and Wildlife Officer of the Year for the Shikar-Safari Club International.      Polk was recognized before the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission at its December meeting. Former U.S. Rep. Bill Brewster of Ardmore, a member of Shikar-Safari Club International, presented Polk a framed certificate and a silver commemorative plate from the club.       "To be selected officer of the year by your peers is something to be proud of," Brewster said.      State Rep. Curtis McDaniel, a neighbor of Polk's in Smithville, also read a citation from the Oklahoma House of Representatives and Gov. Mary Fallin in recognition of Polk's accomplishments.      "The award means a lot to me, but it means just as much to my family," said Polk, who has served ...

    There is no such thing as 100 percent safe ice. ·           The Iowa Department of Natural Resources recommends a  minimum of four inches of quality ice for fishing and at least five inches for snowmobiles and ATVs.  ·           Ice thickness is not uniform on any body of water.  Things like current and springs slow ice growth.  R ocks, trees or docks   that poke through the ice like will conduct heat and make the ice around it less stable.  ·           T here could be pockets of thin ice or places where ice  recently formed , so it would be wise to check ice thickness as you go out . ·           The insulating effect of snow slows down the freezing process. ·           S afety items in the bucket:...

Anyone eager to get out cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling will find an abundance of opportunities at many Minnesota state parks and trails, thanks to this week’s heavy snowfall. “The recent heavy snowfall and the forecast for sustained cold temperatures offers prospects of substantial, enduring snow cover deep into the month,” said Greg Spoden, state climatologist at the Department of Natural Resources. “It will be the best start to the winter recreation season since 2010.” Staff from the DNR’s Parks and Trails Division and local clubs will be busy grooming trails in preparation for the upcoming weekend, but the DNR advises prospective park and trail visitors to check the website for trip planning tips before heading out to a winter recreation destination. Snow depth and trail conditions are updated every Thursday after 2 p.m. throughout the winter months at  www.mndnr.gov/snow . Many Minnesota state parks rent snowshoes, and several rent cross-country...

 Approximately 500 people will gather in Huron this Friday, Dec. 6, for Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s Pheasant Habitat Summit. The Governor’s Pheasant Habitat Summit will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Huron Crossroads and Convention Center and the Huron Arena. Those attending the event will check in at the Huron Arena where a morning session of guest lecturers will be held. The afternoon session in the Crossroads Convention Center will feature breakout groups of those attending to gather ideas on specific topics related to pheasant habitat in South Dakota. The groups will be asked to consider the question, “What can be done to maintain and enhance existing pheasant habitat as well as increasing pheasant habitat in South Dakota?” with perspectives from federal, state, local and individual ideas. Registration for the summit has closed, but individuals who do not attend the event will be able to watch a live presentation on the Internet. South Dakota Public Broadcasting will ...

Map of USA with Oklahoma highlighted (Photo credit: Wikipedia) CENTRAL Arcadia : November 13. Elevation normal, water 46 and murky. All fishing fair to good. Report submitted by Sheila Hutton, gate attendant. Draper : December 2. Elevation below normal, water clear. All fishing slow. Report submitted by Tony Woodruff, game warden stationed in Cleveland County. Hefner : December 3. Elevation dropping, water 44-47 and clear. Largemouth bass slow. Smallmouth bass slow. White bass and striped bass hybrids good on white grubs and jigs at 12-25 ft. along the dam. Channel and blue catfish fair on cut bait along the dam. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 20-24 ft. along the dam. Walleye slow on grubs at 8-12 ft. along the dam. Report submitted by Lucky Lure Tackle. Overholser : December 3. Elevation normal, water 49 and clear. Crappie and white bass fair on bright colored artificial lures at the west pier. Catfish slow to fair on cut shad. Report submitted by Jarrod Dav...

Applications for the 2014 spring season will be accepted wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold and online at  www.mndnr.gov/buyalicense  from Wednesday, Nov. 27 through Friday, Jan. 10, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The 2014 spring hunt will consist of six five-day and two seven-day seasons. A regulation change in 2014 means hunters need to apply for only the first three time periods, seasons A through C. All licenses for the last five time periods, seasons D through H, are unlimited and available over-the-counter. A second regulation change closes the portion of Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area (permit area 511) surrounding the wildlife office headquarters to hunting. The remainder of Carlos Avery will remain open to wild turkey hunting. Wild turkey hunters interested in hunting this spring must apply at a DNR license agent, online at  www.mndnr.gov/buyalicense  or toll-free, 888-665-4236. A nonrefunda...

Citizens interested in learning about or commenting on Minnesota Department of Natural Resources strategies for managing Finland area lakes and streams have until Jan. 15 to ask questions or submit comments. “Management plans describe the past, present and desired future conditions of the waters,” said Dean Paron, Finland area fisheries supervisor. “The plans identify specific management activities planned for that lake or stream in the next 5 to 20 years. They include background on the lake including water chemistry, temperature, and species present which is important in understanding the potential of a fishery.” Every year DNR fisheries staff prepares or revises individual lake and stream management plans for several waters in each management area. In the Finland area, plans for the following lakes and streams will be reviewed. Lakes: • Echo. • Harriet. • Wanless. • Scarp. • Bear. • Bean. • Finn Pond. • Weapon. • Katherine. • Gypsy. • Tonic. • Fulton....

The comeback of the Osprey in southern Michigan is a great conservation story, one the Department of Natural Resources would like to share with classrooms and organizations. Nearly absent from much of the state due to the effects of DDT and other pesticide use, the osprey population continues to rebound in southern Michigan. DNR osprey experts are available to speak classes or groups for approximately one hour, detailing the biology, life cycle, decline, reintroduction and research of the osprey in southern Michigan. This interactive program includes a PowerPoint presentation and/or a game that illustrates the concept of bioaccumulation of pesticides in top predators. The program is free of charge. A portion of the education program focuses on research involving ospreys. In southern Michigan, monitoring efforts are tracking the revitalization of this species. This year, several birds were banded, and three osprey chicks from area nests were outfitted with “backpack” satelli...

Iowa’s southern-most trout stream has been restocked with 200 rainbow and 200 brook trout. The November 20 stocking was along the upper half of McLoud Run, which runs along Interstate 380 through northeast Cedar Rapids. “The brook trout were stocked at the upper end of the stream, where the water is a little colder. A small spring enters near the upper end, too,” explained DNR fisheries biologist Paul Sleeper. “The browns and rainbows tend to migrate downstream. They can tolerate warmer water temperatures.” Sleeper also dropped in eight 2-to-3 pound post-spawn brood fish, in the catch and release stream. The trout, from the DNR’s Manchester hatchery, replace fish lost during a water main break late this summer. Chlorine in the treated water and subsequent earth work to repair the break caused the loss of about 80 trout. Related articles Autumn is a great time for trout fishing (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com) Trout Season Kicks Off November 1 (kansas-outdoors.blogspot...

MADISON – Entries are now being accepted for  Wisconsin’s Great Lakes photo contest , with the winning entries to be featured in a beautiful four-color calendar available at the Wisconsin State Fair and for download. “We invite people to give us their best shot,” says Steve Galarneau, who leads the Department of Natural Resources Office of the Great Lakes, which sponsors the contest. “Show us what you love and appreciate about the Great Lakes with your photos and your writing.” Photos of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior as well as their tributaries, wetlands and harbor towns are eligible for the contest; all entries must be received by Feb. 2, 2014. Photos in all seasons are needed and will be accepted in the following categories: Natural Features and Wildlife; Cultural and Historic Features; People Enjoying Wisconsin’s Great Lakes; and Lake Protection Activities, according to Jo Temte, the communication specialist who coordinates the contest. Last year, DNR received mo...