Family-Outdoors

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...

Just in time for warmer weather, the Department of Natural Resources is offering many opportunities throughout the state for families to get outdoors and experience all that Michigan state parks have to offer. Recreation 101 – known as Rec 101 – is one of the parks’ most popular programs. This series of free, hands-on lessons allows participants to learn new skills and explore nature-related topics in Michigan’s beautiful woods and waters. Activities range from archery to windsurfing, and all equipment and expert instruction is provided free of charge. Learn more about the program at www.michigan.gov/rec101 . For the health-conscious individual and anyone looking to get in shape, the DNR launched its Fresh Air Fit program last summer. These classes are taught by local fitness instructors and include yoga, tai chi, trail running and cardio, to name just a few. Studies have shown that outdoor exercise is even more beneficial than traditional classes, so Fresh Air Fit partici...

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is making it easier for Michigan seniors age 65 and older to get a price break on the hunt/fish combo license. The new senior hunt/fish combo license includes a fishing license (good for all legal species), a base hunting license and two deer licenses for $43. When purchasing the 2014 licenses without a senior discount, seniors who purchased the regular hunt/fish combo license paid $76. The only way to get a senior discount on these items was to purchase them separately as senior licenses. The newly packaged discounted license is available for purchase as of April 14. In addition, resident seniors who paid the higher $76 price for a 2014 license will be receiving a letter from the DNR offering a refund of $33 -- the difference between the regular hunt/fish combo and the senior hunt/fish combo. "When the license year began on  March 1 , we had quite a few seniors who qualified for discounts on individual licenses but were buyi...

Michigan is starting to see the first signs of spring, and camping season is not far behind! The online reservation system for Michigan state parks and harbors is now accepting reservations through August 2014. Campsites and harbor slips both fill up quickly as the weather gets warmer, so state recreation officials recommend making spring and summer plans now to avoid the last-minute rush. Reservations can be made online at www.midnrreservations.com  or by calling 1-800-44-PARKS  (1-800-447-2757 ). “We want our guests to have the best possible experience with Michigan’s award-winning state parks, starting from the moment they make their reservation until they leave our parks with cherished memories,” said Ron Olson, chief of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Parks and Recreation Division. The DNR upgraded to a new, improved campground reservation system on Nov. 1, 2013. The system features site-specific reservations all season long, broader search capabi...

Rabbits and other small creatures will have some new homes at Fulton State Game Area now that a handful of volunteers – working on a Michigan-On-the-Ground program – spent a Saturday building brush piles at the Kalamazoo County site. The program, a partnership between Michigan United Conservation Clubs and the Department of Natural Resources, recruits volunteers to help the DNR improve fish and wildlife habitat across the state. On-the-Ground has attracted the attention of sportsmen and others who want to help increase the productivity of state game areas, rivers and lakes. Last Saturday, volunteers felled pre-selected trees to build lattices, which could be piled high with brush to provide nesting and escape cover for small game – like rabbits – and other critters. By noon , the crew had built 10 brush piles along the edge of an agriculture field on the area. The brush piles are part of a 10-year plan, written by DNR wildlife biologist Mark Mills, to improve the habitat at the game ar...

Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge (Photo credit: Wigwam Jones ) The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is now accepting Wildlife Habitat Grant Program applications through  March 1, 2014 .   Projects featuring habitat enhancement for game species will be given priority. The Wildlife Habitat Grant Program (WHGP) began in October 2013 and will be funded with a portion of the revenue of the hunting and fishing licenses sold each year. The DNR administers the WHGP through a cooperative effort between its Wildlife Division and Grants Management. The main objective of the WHGP  is to enhance and improve the quality and quantity of game species habitat in support of specific goals from the Wildlife Division’s strategic plan,  The GPS . Those goals are: GPS Goal 2 – Manage habitat for sustainable wildlife populations in a changing environment GPS Goal 4 – Increase public participation, acceptance and support of hunting and trapping and increase particip...

The DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife wants to hear your ideas on fishing, hunting, trapping and other fish and wildlife related regulations in Indiana, including special permits. From now until Feb. 28, you can use a convenient online form to contribute ideas and provide input on topics the DNR has identified for consideration. Related articles Minnesota - Spring turkey hunting applications accepted through Jan. 10

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....

While out in the field in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, hunters and trappers might come upon a denned black bear. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is looking for locations of denned bear in order to fit them with a radio collar for ongoing bear research. “Information gathered from female bears helps us to manage the black bear population,” said wildlife biologist Mark Boersen. Currently, only three female bears are being monitored in the northern Lower Peninsula through the use of radio-tracking equipment. “We would like to have a few more female bear collared throughout the area,” said Boersen. “Hunters are all over northern Michigan right now, and they provide a great set of eyes for information on denning locations.” After locating a denned bear, biologists will determine if the animal is a good candidate for radio-collaring. Only female bears are selected. They will be sedated by a biologist and fitted with a radio-tracking collar and ear tags. Hair samples w...

Wisconsin Walleye Initiative underway to improve walleye fishing LAKE MILLS – Good news for walleye anglers: state fish hatcheries have finished stocking the first of two waves of walleye to go out this year and the number of fish stocked far surpassed original estimates, state fisheries officials say. Four state fish hatcheries equipped to grow “coolwater” fish such as walleye and musky sent more than 2.3 million walleye out the door earlier this summer, 560,000 fish more than originally expected. These fish were 1 to 3 inches long when they were transferred into their new homes. They are the “small fingerlings” that DNR has traditionally stocked the most of because growing the fish to the “large fingerling” size of 4 to 7 inches would cost significantly more and exceed hatchery capacity, according to Mike Staggs, DNR fisheries director. This year is different. In September and October, DNR will be stocking hundreds of thousands of the large fingerlings, made possible by th...

A series of special meetings last fall with landowners along the Upper Iowa River revealed some disturbing behavior by individuals who frequent Iowa’s signature inland stream. Trespassing. Alcohol abuse. Underage drinking. Public nudity. Public urination. Littering. Vulgar language. And the list goes on. Floating the Upper Iowa River was once included on the National Geographic’s America’s 100 Best Adventures list, but to those living nearest the river, much of its attraction has been diminished by those who use it. “We heard stories of people coming home to find an intoxicated person in their kitchen making a sandwich, about encounters with intoxicated people looking for a ride home, or vomiting or urinating on their property,” said Nate Hoogeveen, river programs coordinator for the Iowa DNR. Hoogeveen met earlier with other players in the area to discuss the possibility of designating the Upper Iowa River as a state water trail. At these listening sessions, a number of c...

Good news! The DNR is offering “Hook, Line and Sinker” programs at over 30 state parks and hatcheries across the state this summer. Learn fishing basics, like knot-tying, casting, selecting and using bait, and removing the fish from the hook. Our experienced, friendly staff provides the instruction, the equipment and the bait, all you need is a Recreation Passport to enter the park.  To find a Hook, Line and Sinker program near you, visit  www.michigan.gov/ hooklineandsinker  for a list of participating parks. Programs are being added regularly, so bookmark the page and check back often. As always, children under the age of 17 are not required to have a fishing license. Hook, Line and Sinker programs are free; however, a Recreation Passport is required for each vehicle entering the park.

Big Manitou Falls It finally looks summer has arrived and not just on the calendar, but in the woods and on the waters of Wisconsin. For the most part, the state has enjoyed sunnier, warmer days in the past week and more of the same is in the forecast. Events are really picking up at state park, forest and trail properties, including a  solstice celebration  this weekend at  Aztalan State Park  in Jefferson County. Visitors will be able to view an archeological dig going on that was being filmed this week for an series that will run next spring on PBS. For a list of other activities, search the DNR website for “ get outdoors .” Water levels are finally beginning to drop on river systems. The North Fork of the Flambeau is at normal levels for early summer. Both the Lower Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers are also continuing to drop. The mayfly hatch seems to have just started on many northern lakes, including the Upper Chippewa Basin, and this has upset the ...