Family-Outdoors

Purple loosestrife is an invasive plant deemed harmful to the watershed. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Here is the weekly fishing report  for 6/12/2104 Michigan DNR is encouraging residents to become familiar with the wide variety of snakes the occupy Michigan.  There are a total of 17 species, and according to DNR, 16 of those pose no threat to humans.  In fact snakes play a pivotal role in many important facets of the ecosystem.  To learn  more about the snakes in Michigan, visit HERE . "Stewarship Volunteers" are playing a helpful role in helping take care of public areas around Michigan, such as helping identify and removing invasive plant species.  These volunteers roles are honored in the story  Stewardship volunteers give back to state parks

In 1966, the Kirtland’s warbler was listed as a federally endangered species; today, history is being made as this unique songbird may soon be delisted. The Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service signed a memorandum of understanding in June 2011 to clarify each agency’s commitment to the conservation of the Kirtland’s warbler. Due to the potential for delisting, the three agencies decided it was necessary to develop a Kirtland’s Warbler Conservation Plan (KWCP) that would provide future strategic guidance to sustain a viable population of Kirtland’s warblers across their breeding range. The current habitat and brown-headed cowbird management programs have been successful in addressing the major threats to Kirtland’s warblers, and the KWCP will help transition management from the recovery phase to the new focus on long-term population sustainability. Kirtland’s warbler breeding habitat in northern Michigan is dev...

Fish, wildlife and communities of the upper Midwest and Great Lakes will benefit from leading Aurora borealis at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. Photo courtesy of Bryan Worth. edge science projects that aim to inform on-the-ground conservation efforts and natural resource management across the upper Midwest and Great Lakes region. The Upper Midwest and Great Lakes Landscape Conservation Cooperative (LCC), a partnership of more than 30 agencies and organizations vested in long-term sustainability of our natural resources and regional communities, announced funding for new and ongoing research projects that aim to connect science with land and water resource managers and policymakers. “Our partnership is founded on a collaborative approach to problem-solving. Working together across federal, state and non-governmental lines, we are identifying, and filling, key gaps in our collective body of scientific knowledge. By leveraging our resources, we are more equipped to respond ...

CENTRAL Arcadia : June 2. Elevation above normal, water murky. Fishing is very sporadic, one day may be good and the next slow. Crappie slow on minnows and tube jigs at 1/2-7 ft. around docks, rocks and shorelines. Largemouth bass slow on minnows and jigs around docks and in the main lake; smaller bass are being caught by people fishing for crappie. Channel and blue catfish slow on cut bait, punch bait and stinkbait around points, coves and shorelines. Report submitted by Vince Mesis, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County. Draper : June 3. Elevation above normal, water 70. Crappie fair on tube jigs, minnows around brush structure, shorelines and docks. Report submitted by Chad Strang, game warden stationed in Cleveland County. Hefner : June 2. Elevation below normal, water 70-74. Channel and blue catfish good on punch bait, stinkbait and live bait at 2-8 ft. along inlets, points and rocks. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits, buzz baits and jigs at 3-6 ...

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 It’s here! Michigan’s annual  Summer Free Fishing Weekend  will be observed this  Saturday, June 7  and  Sunday, June 8 . Both residents and non-residents can fish without a license however all regulations still apply. This is a great opportunity to introduce someone new to the sport of fishing so don’t miss out, call a family member, friend or neighbor and take them fishing! SOUTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA Lake Erie:   Walleye were caught southwest of Stony Point in 18 to 24 feet and near the River Raisin buoys in 16 to 22 feet. Fish were also caught in 18 to 22 feet out near the C-Buoy and the stacks as well as straight out from the campground at Sterling State Park. Anglers are trolling spoons or purple and pink crawler harnesses early or hard jerk baits ...

1st Place Senior Team, Altus More than 40 schools were represented at the Oklahoma Trapshooters Association in El Reno on May 7 for the State Shoot. The event brought students together after a season of practice and competition at their respective schools as part of the Oklahoma Scholastic Shooting Sports Program (OKSSSP), administered by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Damon Springer congratulates the top three males in the senior division. OKSSSP is part of the Wildlife Department's in-school education programs. The program is a trap-based shotgun program that - much like the National Archery in the Schools Program - is designed to instill confidence and self-esteem while teaching students the proper and safe handling of firearms.  "The OKSSSP has proven to be immensely popular among the state schools that have joined the program. Not only are students given the chance to learn about firearms and gun safety, but the schools receive financia...

Whether you want to learn to fish, compete for prizes at a tournament, or just have some fun, there is something for everyone at upcoming fishing clinics held across the state.  A list of fishing clinics is available on the Iowa Department of Natural Resources website under the special events calendar at https://programs.iowadnr.gov/ specialevents/Search.aspx .  For more information about individual events, call the number listed with the clinic.  Activities vary at each clinic and may include fish identification, how to operate a reel, different ways to cast, knot tying, how to handle fish, bait presentations and different fish cleaning methods.  UPCOMING FISHING CLINICS June 7 Anita, Lake Anita Kids Fishing Day, Lake Anita, 10 a.m. to Noon Ankeny, Ankeny Optimist Club Fishing Derby, Hawkeye Park Pond, 10 a.m. to Noon Bloomfield, Youth Fishing Clinic, Davis County Pond 7 (S-NM1), 9:30 a.m. to Noon Center Junction, Central Park Annual Kids...

Wisconsin's great outdoors is always the ticket to fun with family and friends. On  June 7  and  8  it gets even better -- it's free for Wisconsin residents and visitors!  Free entry  to state parks and forests   Free fishing Free DNR trails Free ATV/UTV riding on public trails open to such uses Watch our video for more information about Free Fun Weekend Resources to help you plan your Free Fun Weekend Download a poster and help us spread the word