Family-Outdoors

No crisp, frosty morning as you stepped into the switchgrass or crop stubble this past weekend. Opening day pheasant hunters packed in water…not hand warmers. And with a hefty hike in expected bird numbers this fall; some were even packing out a pheasant or three. “Most of the groups I checked Saturday morning had a bird; the groups with dogs,” assessed DNR conservation officer Brad Baker. He spent part of the day along the Iowa River Corridor, where low lying flood-prone acres have been purchased or taken out of row crops by easements in the last 15 years. “They were seeing birds today. The last two years, much of the Corridor was underwater (through much of the growing season),” Baker said. Upland game hunters have a great reason to head into the field this fall. Pheasant numbers, measured across 200 early morning, gravel road routes, are up a whopping 151 percent from last year’s record low. Much of that was due to increased winter survival and a hatch that made it through...

A Wisconsin game farm owner is now a felon due to his illegal commercialization of snow Long-eared owl. Photo courtesy of Steve Gifford. geese. United States Attorney James L. Santelle, announced that on October 20, 2014, Todd David Doughty, age 50, owner of the “Thunderbird Game Farm” in Chilton, Wisconsin, was sentenced to five years probation, ordered to pay a $5,000 fine, and had his hunting, fishing and trapping privileges revoked for five years by Chief United States District Court Judge William C. Griesbach. According to the plea agreement and other documents filed with the court, Doughty illegally engaged in the sale of sausage containing snow goose, a migratory bird. While sentencing the defendant, Chief Judge Griesbach noted a litany of past wildlife offenses which, “spoke to the defendant’s character” and his “disregard for wildlife laws” which necessitated the lengthy revocation of hunting privileges. As a convicted felon, Doughty will never again legally possess a ...

The arrival of cooler weather might prompt many fishermen to store away their rods and reels until An angler holds up his stringer after adding another rainbow trout at the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area. Trout stocking season will begin Nov. 1 at most designated trout areas statewide.  next spring. But don't be so quick -- plenty of exciting angling can be found throughout the winter months in Oklahoma's designated trout fishing areas.    The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation operates two year-round trout fisheries in the Lower Mountain Fork River below Broken Bow dam and in the Lower Illinois River below Tenkiller Ferry Dam. Trout are stocked in those areas every week or two.    The Wildlife Department has six other designated trout fishing areas where trout stocking season will begin Nov. 1. Those areas are Perry CCC/Lake Perry Park, Robbers Cave, Blue River, Lake Watonga, Medicine Creek and Lake Carl Etling. To view a trout stoc...

 Hunters hoping to enjoy a wild turkey meal for Thanksgiving or Christmas will have their chance to bag a bird during Oklahoma's fall turkey gun season from Nov. 1-21.    Generally overshadowed by the more-popular spring turkey season, the fall turkey gun season offers the chance to pursue these elusive birds under different and oftentimes more challenging conditions than those found in springtime.    Archery season for turkey opened Oct. 1 and continues through Jan. 15, 2015. The fall turkey season bag limit is one bird, regardless of the method of take.    The Rio Grande subspecies of turkey is found primarily in the western two-thirds of Oklahoma, while the Eastern subspecies is mainly seen in the eastern one-third of the state.    Turkey hunters in the northwestern parts of the state should get some opportunities this fall, said Steve Conrady, northwest region supervisor with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. ...

Looking for a new place to hunt waterfowl this fall? Take a trip to Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area for a quality hunting experience. Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area, just north of Linwood on the western shore of the Saginaw Bay, has a family feeling. The hunters there take great pride in this local resource and appreciate the natural beauty and abundant waterfowl in the area. A mix of dabbling and diving ducks, as well as Canada geese, can be found at Nayanquing Point and on the adjoining waters of Saginaw Bay. Mallards are the most commonly harvested duck, with a good number of wood ducks (early in the season) and green-winged teal and widgeon taken as well. Waterfowl hunters who want to hunt at Nayanquing Point must enter the managed hunt drawing. Drawings occur every day of the waterfowl hunting season at  5:30 and 11 a.m.  There are 26 flooded field zones and 40 marsh zones on the area, most with easy walk-in access. Nayanquing Point encompasses 1,50...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Michigan’s state fish hatcheries were developed in the 1870s in an effort to produce the species, strain and size of fish needed by managers to create a dynamic fishery in Michigan’s water bodies. State fish hatcheries are still critical to the efforts of the Department of Natural Resources to restore, enhance and create new fishing opportunities in Michigan’s various water bodies. These efforts are supported by six state fish hatcheries located throughout the upper and lower peninsulas. Fall is a great time to visit any state fish hatchery as they participate in egg-take activities. These activities consist of collecting eggs and milt (sperm) from fish to reproduce specific species that will be reared at the hatcheries. These activities can often be viewed by the public. All of Michigan’s state fish hatcheries are free to visit. Many offer guided or self-guided tours. Harrietta State Fish Hatchery This hatchery, established in 1901, is the state’s oldest...

Mississippi River at La Crosse, (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Fall colors are still pretty impressive in parts of southern and even central Wisconsin, but with the recent winds and several days of rain last week leaves are dropping rapidly. The rain has water levels on many river systems across the state remain high for early fall. With nicer weather this week, farmers are picking starting to catch up on the fall harvest, and lots of geese have been seen feeding in freshly picked corn fields. Musky have remained the highlight for anglers in the Northwoods, but with more stable weather in the last week walleye action also picked up a notch and a few more anglers were out trying to key in on the fall bite. High water was making fishing a little harder on the Wolf River but there walleyes were being caught there as well as on the Peshtigo, Fox and Wisconsin rivers. Walleye and sauger action was picking up on the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers and continued to be very good on Lake ...

WILD ROSE, Wis. -- Standing sentinel around artificial weeds in the rearing pond at the Wild Rose State Fish Hatchery, newly arrived spotted musky fingerlings from Michigan leave little doubt about their predatory instincts. When a minnow strays too close, the fish dart quickly from the artificial cover, showing off their ultimate potential to make a strong Wisconsin fishery even better. With a few months of steady feeding ahead, these fingerlings will soon gain the weight and size they need for a successful introduction into brood-stock lakes managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as well as the waters of Green Bay. This Great Lakes spotted musky fingerling is every inch the fighter. The fish are gaining size and weight thanks to a steady diet of minnows at Wild Rose. WDNR Photo "These Great Lakes spotted muskies represent an important step forward in our efforts to restore a strong and naturally reproducing population to the waters of Green Bay and Lak...

(Photo credit: Wikipedia ) The Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters to bring their young hunters to one of Michigan's managed waterfowl hunt areas in October and November for a memorable experience. Hunters can choose from several dates and locations. Parties with at least one youth will be given priority in the draw at all seven locations: Oct. 25  – Nayanquing Point Wildlife Area (afternoon hunt only) in  Pinconning Oct. 26  – Muskegon County Wastewater (morning and afternoon hunts) in  Twin Lake Nov. 1   –  Fish Point State Wildlife Area (afternoon hunt only) in  Unionville Nov. 1   –  Fennville Farm Unit of the Allegan State Game Area (morning hunt only) in Fennville Nov. 8   –  Shiawassee River State Game Area (afternoon hunt only) in  St. Charles Nov. 9   –  Pointe Mouillee State Game Area (morning hunt only) in  Rockwood Nov. 14   –  Harsens Island Managed Hunt A...

One of the most important fisheries-related locations in Michigan is the Little Manistee River Weir located in Stronach. In operation since 1968, this facility is Michigan's sole source for obtaining steelhead eggs and primary source for obtaining Chinook salmon eggs. These activities have made the Little Manistee River Weir a popular destination for countless people over its 46 years as folks come to see fish blocked from passage upstream each spring and fall. Many partake in formal or informal tours of the facility and its surrounding areas and often chat with Department of Natural Resources staff about the actions occurring there. In addition the river itself offers some spectacular scenery as well as great recreational opportunities, including fishing, paddling or wildlife watching. Despite all of these features which make the weir a must-see, the site itself is of a fairly rustic nature, tucked away in the woods without many manmade amenities to speak of. But that...

The fourth annual Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Opener was hosted by the City of Friday  night, more than 400 registered hunters hit the fields of Nobles County the following morning for guided group hunts. Worthington on Saturday, October 11, 2014. Following the Governor’s banquet Lake Bella Waterfowl Production Area, managed by the Windom Wetland Management District, was chosen as the launching point for the “Wounded Warriors,” a hunting party of 10 disabled veterans. The group was guided by local Pheasants Forever chapter members and provided free non-toxic ammunition by Federal Cartridge. This special hunt was conducted in support of the  Wounded Warrior Project , a military / veterans charity organization empowering injured war veterans and their families. Governor Mark Dayton could not participate in this year’s hunt as he traditionally has done, but did attend the send-off for the Wounded Warrior party. Dayton offered words of appreciation for the veterans’ serv...

Youths in the southern and eastern parts of Oklahoma will be able to get an early jump on duck season this weekend. Youth waterfowl hunting days will be Oct. 18-19 in Waterfowl Zone 2, providing two additional days outside of the regular waterfowl seasons for hunters 15 and younger.    The regular season for ducks, mergansers and coots is already open in the three Panhandle counties. The season will open Oct. 25 in Zone 1, and Nov. 1 in Zone 2. Goose hunting season will open Nov. 1 statewide.    Any youth hunting during the special early waterfowl weekend must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older who is hunter education certified (unless exempt). The adult hunter may not hunt ducks, mergansers or coots, but may participate in other open seasons. All daily bag limits for waterfowl are the same as those for the regular seasons.    Duck population numbers were strong this past breeding season, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 's 2014 Wat...

Door County’s Peninsula’s Lake Michigan side (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Fall color now at peak in central Wisconsin; youth deer hunt to be held  Oct. 11-12 Fall color is now at peak through central Wisconsin, and approaching peak in southern Wisconsin, though some areas still have quite a few green leaves. In the north colors are generally past peak and leaf drop is not progressing rapidly in some areas. Tamaracks are now providing some excellent golden color in northern wetland areas. Deer are really starting to move with the colder temperatures, especially in southern Wisconsin. Deer observations have increased in the mornings and evenings and deer are spending a lot of time in the woods feeding on a bountiful acorn crop versus the cornfields, especially in the day. There are some rubs and scrapes showing up in the woods. There is a  youth deer hunt  this weekend,  October 11 -12 and all hunters except waterfowl hunters are reminded they must wear blaze o...