Family-Outdoors

(Photo credit: Wikipedia) A person doesn’t need to travel far into the Iowa countryside to know there are a lot of cottontail rabbits out there, which is good news for rabbit hunters. “Cottontail populations on average are 50 percent higher than we’ve seen over the last 10 years,” said Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “Our cottontail populations remain strong statewide with the highest densities in southeast Iowa.” Iowa’s cottontail rabbit population estimate is part of the August roadside survey that will be available online in early September at  www.iowadnr.gov/pheasantsurvey . Iowa’s squirrel population generally follows the acorn production and 2014 was a pretty good year for bur oak and red oak acorn production meaning 2015 should be a pretty good year for squirrel numbers. “Squirrel hunting was once an important part of our heritage but hunter interest has shifted to other species, primarily deer,” said J...

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe today announced the agency will expand fishing and hunting opportunities on 21 refuges throughout the Service’s National Wildlife Refuge System. The final rule also modifies existing refuge-specific regulations for more than 100 additional refuges and wetland management districts. Hunting will be available for the first time on Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. Fishing will be offered for the first time on four national wildlife refuges in North Dakota: Ardoch Refuge, Lake Alice Refuge, Rose Lake Refuge and Silver Lake Refuge.   “The National Wildlife Refuge System is a national treasure that conserves millions of acres of wildlife habitat and provides Americans with unparalleled opportunities to hunt, fish and experience the wonders of the natural world,” said Ashe. “By expanding those opportunities, we are enhancing the lives of millions of Americans, stimulating the national economy to which hunting and f...

Chinook salmon, (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Dove and early teal and Canada goose seasons open next week; first tinges of color showing in the Northwoods Wisconsin continued to receive some additional rainfall in the last week, especially in the north, which has kept northern river systems in good late summer paddling conditions. The Lower Wisconsin State Riverway is running at about normal seasonal levels with plenty of sandbars available. The variable and almost constantly changing weather patterns, along with some windy conditions, made for some erratic fishing success in the Northwoods. Water temperatures have cooled down a bit, which seemed to spur on musky activity, with musky anglers reporting a lot of sightings and follows, as well as quite a few hook-ups and catches of fish in the 34- to 42-inch size. Bass fishing has been fair and relatively consistent. Action for northern pike has picked up a bit in the last several weeks with the dropping water temperatures. Walleye fi...

Heading in to the second year of Iowa’s three year special September teal season hunters can expect to find most wetlands in good condition and near record levels of these small fast-flying ducks. “The teal are there, most of our wetlands are holding water, now we hope that the migration happens during the season and the ducks stop over here,” said Orrin Jones, waterfowl biologist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “Teal prefer larger shallow-water marshes with healthy vegetation that supply a steady diet of bugs and seeds to dine on and cover in which to hide. Hunters can improve their chances for success if they set up with the sun at their back or side. That will help with duck identification and provide hunter cover,” Jones said. “It’s extremely difficult to accurately ID a duck while looking into the sun.” Jones advised hunters to be patient. He said the highest activity period for waterfowl is the half hour before  sunrise but shooting hours for the spec...

Darren Heusel of Yukon recently caught this largemouth bass from a local farm pond.  CENTRAL Arcadia: August 25. Elevation normal, water 84. Largemouth bass slow on plastic baits at 6-10 ft. Channel and blue catfish fair on cut shad in and around the channel. White bass fair on white rooster tails while surfacing. Report submitted by Mark Murray, game warden stationed in Oklahoma and Canadian counties. Draper: August 23. Elevation below normal, water 78 and stained. Largemouth slow on crankbaits and plastic baits around points. Crappie slow on minnows and jigs around docks. Channel and blue catfish slow on cut bait and punch bait around points and riprap. Report submitted by Chad Strang, game warden stationed in Cleveland County. Hefner: August 24. Elevation normal, water 83-86 and clear. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 6-12 ft. around docks and shorelines. White bass and striped bass hybrids fair on lipless baits, grubs and gay blades at 6-10 ft. along shorelines. La...

 Southeast Lower Peninsula  Southwest Lower Peninsula  Northeast Lower Peninsula  Northwest Lower Peninsula  Upper Peninsula  Great Lakes Temperature Map Strong winds have made fishing much more difficult especially for those taking boats out on the Great Lakes.  Water temperatures were unstable making it hard to find a thermocline.  Inland, the fish moved into shallower waters with the onset of cooler temperatures.  Reports were slim this week as few anglers have been out because of the weather.       Southeast Lower Peninsula Lake Erie:   Had a good number of anglers catching yellow perch in 17 to 27 feet in Brest Bay, off Stony Point, in front of the Fermi stacks and out near the E-Buoy and the S-Buoy.  They are anchored while using minnows on spreaders.  Most of the fish were averaging seven to eight inches.  Walleye pressure was low with only a couple anglers reportin...