Family-Outdoors

A new online map and user tool for trout will help anglers find places to fish and gain information about local regulations. Developed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources fisheries bureau, the tool is available through  dnr.wi.gov , using the keyword " TROUT ." The map includes public land and DNR fishing easements. "With more than 13,000 miles of trout streams, revised regulations and several important new classifications and easements this year alone, Wisconsin anglers have more places to go trout fishing than ever before," said Joanna Griffin, DNR trout coordinator. "The new tool will help anglers locate great places to fish, find access points and check regulations. The database contains the latest information available - an important factor since this year alone, we have 14 streams with upgraded classifications. It also includes 27 streams that were recently documented as sustaining trout populations with six of these earning the covete...

Turkey hunters reported harvesting nearly 12,200 Iowa birds this spring, which is highest harvest total since hunters were required to report their harvest in 2007. Iowa’s five spring turkey seasons began  April 9  with the youth season and ended on May 22. Hunters purchased nearly 51,000 spring turkey tags. Hunters can help the DNR with collecting population information during its annual turkey count in July and August. Make a note of the date and county in which you saw the turkey(s), if it is an adult female or adult male (males have beards on their breast), and whether there are young poults (baby turkeys), and then report the number online at  http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/ 2115256/Iowa-Wild-Turkey- Reports . Related articles DNR launches 'Turkey Tracts' hunters' program in Lower Michigan MDC reminds public to not feed deer in CWD counties Tactics and Gear for Last-Minute Turkey Hunting

The Ring-necked Pheasant means fun and memories for South Dakotans and its visitors, but it also means big money to main streets across the state. The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) statistics reveal 150,037 pheasant hunters spent over $170.1 million dollars in the state in 2015. A further breakdown reveals that 84,903 nonresident hunters spent $140.3 million, while 65,134 resident hunters spent approximately $29.8 million in 2015. “South Dakota is a hunting destination for people across the country and the world,” said GFP Secretary, Kelly Hepler. “Pheasant hunting plays a big part in our quality of life, and it continues to be an economic driver for businesses across the state.” The economic and harvest statistics by county can be found online at https://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/ small-game/pheasant-economics. aspx . The counties with the highest hunter spending for 2015 were: Tripp, Brule, Brown, Lyman, Spink and Beadle. “It is no accident that the places where the m...

A prominent fisheries biologist, the University of Oklahoma's  William Matthews retires after 46 years of teaching. After a combined 86 years of training future biologists, two lifelong conservationists, William Caire with the University of Central Oklahoma and William Matthews with the University of Oklahoma, are preparing to retire this year. Both professors have been invaluable collaborators with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Wildlife Diversity Program and have volunteered their time and expertise by serving on its Technical Committee since its formation in 1985.   An authority on Oklahoma's bat populations, the University of Central Oklahoma's William Caire retires after teaching biology for 40 years. Recognized as an authority on Oklahoma's bat populations, Caire joined UCO's College of Mathematics and Science in 1976. In addition to teaching all levels of biology for nonmajors, he also teaches mammalogy for upperclassmen. C...

WEBSTER, S.D. –Two Minnesota anglers landed the fish of their dreams on Saturday, April 23, when they boated a 7 pound, 3 ounce smallmouth bass on Horseshoe Lake. Barnesville, Minnesota’s Lyal Held boated the massive bass, breaking the previous record of 7 pounds, which was caught from Horseshoe Lake by Derek Valnes in 2013.  Lyal’s fish was 19.5 inches in length and had an amazing 19 inch girth. “These anglers had identified Horseshoe Lake as a great opportunity to break a state record,” said South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks’ (GFP) regional fisheries manager, Mark Ermer. “To my understanding, they had been pursuing the record for some time. This is a fish of a lifetime.” Ermer personally verified Held’s smallmouth as a state record. To view a list of all of South Dakota’s state record fish, visit  http://gfp.sd.gov/fishing- boating/state-fish-records- list.aspx . For a fish to qualify as a state record, anglers must have the fish identified by a state fisheries bi...

Effective immediately,  coyote hunting  season is open year-round in Michigan. Please note that dogs may not be used to hunt coyotes  April 16 through July 7 . Nighttime hunting season dates now match the daytime hunting season dates by species. Coyote and opossum hunting are open year-round. Raccoon hunting is  Oct. 1  through  Jan. 31 , and fox hunting runs  Oct. 15  through  March 1 . Raccoons, opossums, foxes and coyotes now may be taken at night with 3 and 4 buckshot. Nighttime furbearers can be taken with a bow and arrow, crossbow, a rimfire firearm .22 caliber or smaller, or a shotgun with loads other than buckshot larger than number 3, slug or cut shell. Centerfire rifles may not be used to take furbearers at night. Portable artificial lights may be used throughout the open nighttime season of the target species. Examples include flashlights, portable battery-powered spotlights and headlamps. Nighttime hunters must use th...

Teepee fire (Photo credit: Wikipedia) PIERRE, S.D. –  Pickerel Lake Recreation Area  near Grenville will host the Becoming an Outdoor Family event  July 27-29 . The event is designed for beginner camping families, families who want to try new outdoor activities and those who enjoy the company of like-minded families. “Becoming an Outdoor Family is an opportunity to try different activities, learn new skills and spend a weekend outdoors with your family,” said Emilie Miller, program specialist for South Dakota state parks. “It’s also a chance to meet other families who share similar interests.” Workshop fees are $60 per family. The fee includes instruction in four skills sessions, program materials, equipment use during the workshop and an electric campsite for two nights. A campsite reservation will be made for participating families, but they must provide their own camper or tent. Families can extend their camping reservation to include the following weekend, July 30...

North Dakota Game and Fish Department fisheries biologists are on the final leg of a four-year walleye tagging study on the Missouri River and Lake Oahe. South central district fisheries biologist Paul Bailey said this spring's goal in North Dakota is to tag 4,000 adult walleye, which would bring the four-year total covering the entire reach to more than 36,000 fish. The study area extends from the Garrison Dam in central North Dakota downstream to Oahe Dam in South Dakota, and involves a major collaboration of biologists and researchers from North Dakota Game and Fish, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, and South Dakota State University. “The study is designed to assess walleye movements, mortality and what proportion of the walleye population is harvested annually by anglers,” Bailey said. The study targets adult walleye, each fitted with a metal jaw tag stamped with a unique number to identify the fish, and a phone number to report the tag. Anglers can either keep or r...

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program is offering a Beyond BOW Mother/Daughter workshop in the city of Marquette. Scheduled for  Saturday, July 30 , at the campground at Tourist Park, this program is for mothers and their daughters (between the ages of 10-17) who would like to learn some kayaking, backpacking and hiking skills. The workshop starts at  9:15 a.m.  and will conclude at  2:45 p.m.  Lunch will be provided as well as all equipment. Each class will be approximately two hours long and will be held round-robin-style. The cost for this workshop is $20 for each mother/daughter group and it is limited to 10 groups. Deadline for registration is  July 22nd . Class information and registration materials are available online at  www.michigan.gov/bow  and registration can be paid online at  www.michigan.gov/estore . For more information, contact Sharon Pitz at  906-228-6561 ...

The Gladwin Field Trial Area will celebrate its 100th anniversary  Saturday, June 18 . The Department of Natural Resources invites the public to come and enjoy a celebration of a century-old Michigan tradition with an  11 a.m.  ceremony at Alibi Hall at the  Gladwin Field Trial Area  in Meredith, Michigan. “We are excited to celebrate this special place with its long-standing history, traditions and habitat management for ruffed grouse and American woodcock,” said DNR wildlife biologist Bruce Barlow.  “The Gladwin Field Trial Area is the best field-trialing venue in the nation.” Located in the northwest corner of Gladwin County on more than 4,900 acres, the Gladwin Field Trial Area brings people from all over the country for premier dog field trials, which are competitions for hunting dogs to test their levels of skill and training in locating and pointing. Trials are held in the early spring and again in the late summer and early fall, avoiding...

 Director Richard Hatcher, after a 37-year career with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, said Monday he plans to retire Oct. 1. He made the announcement during the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission's regular June meeting in Oklahoma City.     "Thanks for the opportunity to serve. I've enjoyed it," Hatcher said. He told commissioners his employment with the Wildlife Department has been a dream job, and he is grateful for the support he's received from Commissioners and from Department employees.      Commission Chairman John Zelbst of Lawton said the Department will conduct a nationwide search for the next director. He appointed Commissioners Bruce Mabrey of Okmulgee, John Groendyke of Enid and Leigh Gaddis of Ada to a search committee. He said Oklahoma Secretary of Energy and Environment Michael Teague will have an advisory role on the committee.      Hatcher joined the Wildlife Department as Oklahoma's first fur...

Contact:  Sharon Pitz ,  906-228-6561  or  John Pepin ,  906-226-1352 The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) Program is offering a Beyond BOW Traditional Archery Workshop for women this month in Grayling, at the Hanson Hills Recreational Area. The program, which is scheduled for the weekend of  June 24-26 , is specifically for women who have previous traditional archery experience. “This is a great opportunity for those women who have some previous experience at our archery classes in Big Bay,” said Sharon Pitz, the DNR’s Becoming an Outdoors-Woman coordinator. “This workshop will help expand on those skills using traditional bows.” Participants must be 18 or older. Enrollment is limited to six. Registration deadline is  June 17 . The workshop will be held rain or shine. The workshop starts at  1 p.m.   Friday, June 24 , with check in. Participants will then head to the campsite. Starting at...

Black and white crappie by Robert W. Hines (Photo credit: Wikipedia) NORTHWEST Arrowhead Lake Expect to see bluegill spawning beds near shore in areas 2-6 feet deep with sand or gravel substrate. With the clear water, the males guarding the nests are often visible and can be caught using a small jig fished under a bobber. Try a small black colored jig tipped with a small piece of crawler or wax worm fished under a bobber. Spawning crappie can also be picked up near shore this time of year with a jig and minnow or crawler. Black Hawk Lake Water levels are about 10 inches over the crest of the spillway. Water temperature is in the low 70's. Black Crappie - Good: Anglers are picking up spawning crappie near shore. Throw a jig tipped with crawler or crappie candy bait fished under a bobber in 2-3 feet of water. Bluegill - Good: Large numbers of bluegill are being caught on small jigs tipped with a small piece of crawler fished under a bobber near shore. They are biting i...