Family-Outdoors

(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...

Lahonton National Fish Hatchery (Photo credit: USFWS Pacific Southwest Region ) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) today announced that it does not intend to close any of the nation’s national fish hatcheries in the current fiscal year, but warned that closures may be necessary in FY 2015 given fiscal uncertainty and growing operations costs.  The Service released a report today examining the challenges facing the Service’s National Fish Hatchery System (NFHS), which will serve as the basis of discussions with stakeholders on how best to operate the system in a more sustainable manner while supporting the agency’s highest fish and aquatic conservation priorities. “This report sounds the alarm on a hatchery system unable to meet its mission responsibilities in the current budget climate,” said Service Director Dan Ashe.  “In the coming months through the 2015 budget process, I have directed the Service to work with all of our partners to determine whether the opti...

Curious about what happens at a fish hatchery? Come for a visit and see for yourself! Michigan’s state fish hatcheries were developed in the 1870s to produce the species, strain and size of fish needed by fisheries managers to create a dynamic fishery in our 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 Great Lakes, inland lakes and streams. These efforts are accomplished by six state fish hatcheries located throughout Michigan. Fall is a great time to visit any of the state’s fish hatcheries as they participate in egg-take activities. Egg-take activities consist of collecting eggs and milt (sperm) from fish to reproduce specific species that will be reared at these hatcheries. These activities can be viewed by the public. All of Michigan’s state fish hatcheries are free to visit. Some offer guided tours while others offer self-guided tours. ...

 As Oklahoma's summertime fishing action fades into fond memories, the state's fish hatcheries are turning their focus onto creating many great fishing memories of the future.    In mid-September, employees at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Durant State Fish Hatchery took another step in the process of raising Florida largemouth bass (FLMB) for stocking in state waters next spring.    About 1,000 DNA-certified FLMB brood fish are maintained at the hatchery in southern Oklahoma. These fish are spawned each spring to produce the fingerlings that are stocked into state lakes. However, new brooders must be certified each year to replace those lost to retirement or old age.    Oklahoma's largemouth bass state record has been broken the past two consecutive years, and each of these record fish were verified to have Florida genes.    The Wildlife Department began stocking Florida bass in Oklahoma waters in the 1970s, wit...

The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission toured the Durant State Fish Hatchery recently and held its September meeting there. The two-day event was part of an effort to give Commissioners a first-hand look at various field operations of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.       The facility at Durant is the largest and one of four state fish hatcheries owned and operated by the Wildlife Department that produce millions of fish each year for stocking Oklahoma waters to enhance angling.       Before the official meeting Sept. 9, Commissioners toured the hatchery and were briefed on a number of upcoming maintenance and renovation needs required to keep the facility operating at a productive level. The Department is currently nearing the beginning of a $1.5 million project that will replace the hatchery's pump station that is used to supply water to the entire hatchery. The station currently in place is located on the Blue ...

Congressman Ron Kind, representatives from the Sac and Fox Tribe of Oklahoma, and members of the local media helped Genoa National Fish Hatchery celebrate the commemorative groundbreaking for the future Great River Road Interpretive Center on August 21, 2013. The new interpretive center will be located at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery in Genoa, Wisconsin. The project is being partially funded from a grant secured by the National Scenic Byways Program, part of the federal transportation budget. The grant is the first of its type for the Fisheries Program nationally, and the first use of Department of Transportation, Federal Highways – National Scenic Byways funding of any type awarded to a national fish hatchery.   The center will focus on the intrinsic value of the Upper Mississippi River, including its history and natural resources. The center will also feature an exhibit on the last battle of the Black Hawk War, which was fought just south of the hatchery. The value of...

(Photo credit: The U.S. Army ) Six-day camp teaches youngsters outdoor skills from fishing, swimming, and star-gazing to canoeing, archery, and wingshooting; registration deadline May 28 JUNCTION CITY — The Kansas Wildlife Federation (KWF) and the K-State Cooperative Extension Service are sponsoring the 24th Annual Outdoor Adventure Camp (OAC) June 3-8 at the Camp WaShunGa area of Rock Springs 4-H Center , near Junction City. Youngsters ages 10 through 12 who enjoy the outdoors and want to learn more about it are encouraged to attend. Participants will spend mornings exploring the grounds at Rock Springs with instructors, observing Kansas animals and plants close-up. Session subjects include insects, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, fish management, wildlife management, wetlands, birds, and stream ecology. Afternoons will be spent learning about birds of prey, skins and skulls, bats, streams, and more general topics, including ecology, wetlands, riparian area...