Family-Outdoors

BOONE  – Based on the positive comments that filled Todd Bogenschutz’s email and voicemail, Iowa pheasant hunters saw more birds last fall and after last winter’s below normal snowfall that good vibe should continue this season. Bogenschutz, the upland wildlife biologist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, uses winter snowfall and spring rain totals along with historic trends to predict pheasant population swings. For five years in a row, heavy winter snow followed by cool wet springs sent Iowa pheasant numbers into a free fall bottoming out in 2011. But after more favorable winter/nesting seasons, including most recently in back to back years, things are looking up for ringnecks. “We had a good winter and should have had good pheasant and quail survival.  Every region in the state was below normal for snowfall, except the east central region and it was only one-inch above normal so we should be poised for an increase in bird numbers as long as we have a go...

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual midwinter waterfowl survey in early January indicated 71,500 birds were in the state. Mike Szymanski, migratory game bird biologist, said an estimated 40,700 Canada geese were observed on the Missouri River, and another 12,000 were scattered on Nelson Lake. Lake Sakakawea, declared iced-over on  Dec. 14 , had no geese on the lake itself. Szymanski said after summarizing the numbers, a total of 52,700 Canada geese and 18,700 mallards were tallied statewide.  “Conditions leading up to this year’s survey were colder than normal, resulting in fewer birds in the state compared to the past couple winters,” Szymanski said. “Most waterfowl were pushed from North Dakota just prior to Thanksgiving, with the exception of those using the Missouri River System.” According to Szymanski, early December cold temperatures and strong winds pushed most Missouri River birds from the state. Conditions remained the s...

Anyone eager to get out cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling will find an abundance of opportunities at many Minnesota state parks and trails, thanks to this week’s heavy snowfall. “The recent heavy snowfall and the forecast for sustained cold temperatures offers prospects of substantial, enduring snow cover deep into the month,” said Greg Spoden, state climatologist at the Department of Natural Resources. “It will be the best start to the winter recreation season since 2010.” Staff from the DNR’s Parks and Trails Division and local clubs will be busy grooming trails in preparation for the upcoming weekend, but the DNR advises prospective park and trail visitors to check the website for trip planning tips before heading out to a winter recreation destination. Snow depth and trail conditions are updated every Thursday after 2 p.m. throughout the winter months at  www.mndnr.gov/snow . Many Minnesota state parks rent snowshoes, and several rent cross-country...

Ice Ledge (Photo credit: Bob.Fornal ) State Game and Fish Department officials are cautioning hunters to be wary of where they hunt, as late-season weather is freezing North Dakota’s small and mid-sized waters, giving the appearance of safe foot travel. Nancy Boldt, department boat and water safety coordinator, said hunters should be cautious of walking on frozen stock ponds, sloughs, creeks and rivers. Ice thickness is not consistent, Boldt said, as it can vary significantly within a few inches. Hunters walking the edge of a cattail slough will not find the same ice thickness in the middle. “The edges firm up faster than the center,” she added. “So, with your first step the ice might seem like it is strong enough, but it may not be anywhere near solid enough once you progress away from the shoreline.” And in the case of snowfall, Boldt cautions hunters to be aware of snow-covered ice. Snow insulates ice, inhibiting solid ice formation, and makes it difficult to check ...

Two mild winters in a row were not in the cards. Iowa’s winter seemed mild through middle February, but March was the coldest since 1975 and snowiest since 1998, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship weather report for March. Only northwest Iowa had below normal snow fall amounts. Statewide, Iowa received an average of 31.3 inches of snow from Dec. 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013, an increase from 17.4 inches for the previous winter. What does that mean for Iowa’s pheasants? In years following similar amounts, there was little improvement in pheasant numbers. The next critical time period is spring nesting season. If April and May are above normal for temperature and normal to below normal for rainfall, pheasant counts may increase. If temperatures are below normal and rainfall is above normal, pheasant counts are likely to decrease. While this is a statewide perspective based on weather and population change, the northwest region with below normal snowfa...

Ice fishing (Photo credit: Wikipedia) By Maj. Roger Tietz, Minnesota DNR Enforcement Division The 2012 ice fishing season is drawing to a close. For those of you who spend time on the ice, there are a few things we can learn from this year’s ice fishing season. These are important lessons, life’s moments that will someday be the “I remember back during the winter of 2012” that will be ever etched in our minds. So, from an avid ice fisherman and a conservation officer for more than 30 years, here are “Lessons learned from the 2012 ice fishing season.” Putting a fish house on the lake requires dedication In Minnesota we enjoy the opportunity to put an ice fishing or spearing shelter on the lake. The law allows us to leave it on the lake unattended. To be clear, I’m not focusing on portable ice fishing tents or shelters that an angler sets up and takes home with them. I’m focused on the ones that anglers put out and leave on the lake overnight. In most cases, these are the hou...

Winter continued to hang on this week, with a mid-week storm dropping from 2 to six to 8 inches across a swath from northwestern to south eastern Wisconsin. Snow depths range from a low of 6 to 8 inches in the south to nearly 2 feet in some areas the north. That could change rapidly, though with warmer temperatures and rain in the forecast for this weekend across southern and central Wisconsin. Snowmobile trails reopened in many counties in southern and central Wisconsin with conditions generally fair to good, while many trails in the north range from good to excellent. State recreational safety wardens are cautioning snowmobilers that while many trails have reopened, rain and warm temperatures this weekend could cause conditions to deteriorate rapidly, especially on waterways. Wisconsin has already recorded 18 snowmobile deaths this winter, and wardens are reminding sledders to slow down and avoid travelling on rivers and lakes. Some very good cross-country skiing is bei...

Snowmobile driving! (Photo credit: psychopyko ) Snowmobile trails across South Dakota welcomed a mid-winter blizzard, and snowmobilers are taking full advantage of the conditions while they can. “Trails are in excellent condition in northeastern South Dakota, where some areas received up to 16 inches of snow,” said State Trails Program Specialist Tony Schmitt of the Department of Game, Fish and Parks. “Trails near Sisseton, Webster, Milbank and Aberdeen received a significant amount of snow and are in excellent condition. Trails near Watertown, Brookings and west to Huron didn’t receive as much snow, but are still in great condition.” Black Hills Trails are seeing some better conditions after a recent warm spell. “We had a few weeks where many trails had minimal coverage due to the warm weather, but cooler temperatures and the recent snowfall have improved trail conditions just in time for President’s Day Weekend,” said Shannon Percy, Black Hills Trails District Park ...

While some areas of west central Wisconsin received upward of a foot or more of snow last weekend, most areas receiving from an inch or two to 4 to 6 inches. Only a few counties in northwestern and north central Wisconsin have opened snowmobile trails, and conditions are listed as poor to fair at best. In most areas, there was not enough snow for groomers to even get out and pack down snow. State recreational safety specialists are reminding snowmobilers that it is trespass to use snowmobile trails before they are open. Opening of trails is done by county snowmobile trail coordinators based on recommendations from local snowmobile clubs that maintain the trails. Using the trails before they are open can make conditions more difficult for the volunteers, and can also jeopardize the easements that allow trails to cross private lands. A few state parks and forests reported that they have rolled some cross-country ski trails, but there were no reports of snow deep enoug...

Image via Wikipedia PIERRE, S.D. – After a shortage of snow this winter, a South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks official says snowmobiling in the Black Hills is in full swing. Two to two-and-a-half feet of snow fell in the Black Hills in the last 10 days, and snowmobile trails are in excellent condition, said District Park Supervisor Shannon Percy, who manages all GFP snowmobile trails in the Black Hills. “We’ve been a little short on snow most of the winter, but with recent snows we’re experiencing the best riding we’ve seen all year,” he said. Percy reminds snowmobilers that trail conditions can be found online and on Twitter. Follow eastern trail conditions at www.twitter.com/SDsnowEast and the Black Hills conditions at www.twitter.com/SDsnowBHills Related articles Experience the Mickelson Trail (South Dakota) on Snowshoes (family-outdoors.blogspot.com) SD: Roughlock Falls to Host Snowshoe Hike (family-outdoors.blogspot.com) Black Hills Deer, Firearms Ant...

Image via Wikipedia Several waves of snowfall is the last week covered most of the state with new snow, with the exception of areas of northwestern and northeastern Wisconsin, which continue to have the lowest snow cover, with some areas only reporting 2 to 3 inches on the ground. Areas of the north received 8 to 10 inches and areas of southern Wisconsin received 4 to 6 inches. The new snow allowed some southern and central counties to open snowmobile trails, but many counties still did not have enough snow to open trails. Unfortunately, rain followed the snow in much of southern Wisconsin, which combined with heavy trail use, has already led to trails being closed in some counties. The north faired better, and snowmobile trails are listed as excellent to fair in about a dozen of the most northern tier of counties on the Department of Tourism’s  Snow Conditions Report  (exit DNR). Cross-country ski trails were groomed for the first time in many southern and central s...

Image via Wikipedia Minimal snow cover in southern, central Wisconsin may result in candlelight hikes MADISON – While a New Years snowstorm brought much needed snow to northern Wisconsin, a lack of snow in southern and central Wisconsin means many scheduled upcoming candlelight ski events at Wisconsin state parks , forests and trails may be held only as candlelight hikes. More than 30  candlelight events  are scheduled this winter at Wisconsin state parks, forests, trails and recreation areas, beginning with five events Jan. 7. The events have become increasingly popular in recent years, with some attracting several hundred visitors. A candlelight ski and snowshoe hike at Blue Mound State Park last February attracted an estimated 1,500 people. While the events have benefited from good early snowfalls in Wisconsin the past several years, this year’s lack of snow across much of Wisconsin means many events will likely be held as just candlelight hikes. And some events...

The Forest Floor In East-Central Missouri on March 13th, 2011 Just 24 hours ago, my wife and I took a walk through the woods near our house.  It was a bit chilly, but nothing too bad.  Laura wore a coat and I wore a quilt lined flannel shirt.  Though the chill was there, the evidence of Spring was all around. I had Spring break starting today, but Laura and our son were headed back to the regular schedule.  Laura had a tough and busy weekend without much rest.  The bright spot had been the trip home to visit from college by our oldest son.  Anyway, she went to bed on Sunday night tired and wishing she had another day of rest.  I went to bed wishing some miracle would occur so she'd get some of that rest. The Forest Floor in a Cedar Grove above our House March 14th, 2011 She woke me up this morning and said it had snowed a bunch and that the power had gone out for a few moments.  I got up and watched the television just on the off-chance...