Family-Outdoors

During the first and second week of August, Wisconsin waterfowl hunters and anyone else interested in the management of waterfowl in the state, will have an opportunity to provide input. Hearings will be held August 5th-8th where residents can hear what the DNR plans consist of, and to offer suggestions to DNR officials. One of the primary topics of discussion is always seasons.  Citizens can lend their support to the past organization of Wisconsin waterfowl hunting seasons, or offer suggestions for changes.  Also discussed will be bag limits for various species as well as locations for permitted waterfowl hunting. Hunting - Fishing - Camping Information Nationwide Proposals for state seasons are somewhat dictated by USFWS regulatory restrictions.  After those come out, Wisconsin's proposed waterfowl hunting regulations and seasons will be ready for viewing on August 5th.  For more information on these meetings or to look at proposed waterfowl season info ...

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has released its 2013 Duck Breeding Population Estimate, and reports "duck populations are strong." The current estimate of the number of ducks across Canada and the United States is 45.6 million. This is a 6% decrease vs. last year's estimate, but is 33% above the long term average.  As a statistics teacher, I would say that the year-to-year estimates are going to vary quite a bit, so a 6% decrease is probably not statistically significant. Duck Hunting Tips The report states that habitat is improved or the same as last year.  A late spring combined with higher than average precipitation has at least moved things in the right direction.  There was still quite a bit of deficit to overcome going into the spring, so conditions have not improved as much as one might expect. Survey data is available back to 1955 and can be accessed at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds .

Michigan Outdoor News Michigan will allow harvest of wolves starting this year.  According to Russ http://goo.gl/KlbbP Mason, DNW Wildlife Division Chief, "We anticipate that this limited public harvest could both change wolf behavior over time - making them more wary of people, residential areas and farms - and reduce the abundance of wolves in these management areas that have experienced chronic problems."  The number of permits will total 1200 and will allow traditional take methods but will not include trapping.  To learn more about this harvest, visit On July 27th, paddlers can navigate the Muskeon River with a DNR biologist.  It will be a 3 hour trip through Muskegon State Game Area, and will include some basic paddling instruction.  To get the details, visit http://goo.gl/1p60X Wisconsin Outdoor Report While much of the state has received additional rain in the last week – with areas of the north receiving several inches – water levels througho...

Live California scrub jay/California  (federally protected). Credit USFWS In our opinion there really would not be any penalty too harsh for the culprits apprehended in this bust made by USFWS and other law enforcement.  The operation involved US officers as well as those from other countries.  Demand for the items and animals sought by the poachers is the real problem. For this reason and others, we believe that a total ban on the ownership of exotic animals is a good idea. The operation, called "Operation Wild Web" seized animals and animal parts valued in the many tens of thousands of dollars.  With huge profits to be made, just like the war on drugs, the real answer is in stemming the demand end. Live piranhas/California (state-listed as injurious). Credit USFWS Sumatran tiger skin/California (federally protected). Credit USFWS

CENTRAL Jordan caught this 5.18 lb largemouth bass out of Eufaula last weekend.  Post your fishing pictures: https://www.facebook.com/ wildlifedepartment#!/ wildlifedepartment Arcadia :  July 8. Elevation 1 ft above normal. Hybrid striped bass good on spoons and shad drifting over humps and off points. Catfish good on shad and cut bait on bottom early and late. Report submitted by David Rempe. Arcadia :  July 9. Elevation1 ft above normal, water 84 and murky. All fishing fair to good. Bass and catfish fair to good on worms at 4-6 ft. Report submitted by Sheila Hutton, gate attendant. Hefner : July 9. Elevation above normal, water 79-84 and clear. Largemouth Bass good on soft plastic, spinners, and topwater baits in 2-8 ft around willows and rocky shoreline. White bass good on gay blades and grubs at 4-8 ft. Hybrid striped bass good on gay blades at 4-8 ft. Channel and blue catfish good on punch baits at 2-5 ft in shallow weedy areas. Crappie fai...

Click on the links below to jump to the report section that interests you most: Southeast Lower Peninsula Southwest Lower Peninsula Northeast Lower Peninsula Northwest Lower Peninsula Upper Peninsula The extended warm and humid weather is pushing the fish into deeper waters in both the inland lakes and the Great Lakes. Strong storms coupled with strong winds have muddied some of the waters around the state.     SOUTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA Lake Erie:   Walleye fishing remains good for most with some reporting limit catches between Fermi and the Banana Dike in 18 to 20 feet of water with spoons. Expect to catch your fair share of freshwater drum and white perch. Those targeting perch are marking fish in 18 feet of water around Brest Bay and the River Raisin however they are not biting. Washtenaw County:    Bruin Lake was producing some decent size pike. White bass and white perch were caught in Ford Lake. Detroit River:   Is producing a ...

WISCONSIN OUTDOOR NEWS The Bureau of Endangered Resources in Wisconsin is changing its name to the Bureau of Natural Heritage Conservation within the Department of Natural Resources.  According to bureau director Erin Crain, "Our name has changed but our mission is the same." Crain went on to say, "“Our goal is to keep plants and animals off the endangered and threatened species list in the first place. We think having more people in the field where they can advise partners and private property owners can help us better achieve that goal.” In a related matter, Crain is inviting folks out to the state fair (August 1-11) to see the bureau's booth and learn more about non-game species and what the bureau is up to. On the invasive species front, a species called Japanese hedgeparsley has begun to . be a big problem in southern regions of Wisconsin.  According to DNR, "small patches are easily hand pulled. If the plants are already flowering or have seeds, the...

Michigan Outdoor News The Michigan DNR is sponsoring a series of SCUBA diving clinics.  Cost is $35 if you pre-register or $50 at the door.  The class includes in the water instruction and led by certified instructors.  The next session is on July 23 and 24 in Traverse City.  Call 231-922-5270 for info. On August 6 and 7 there will be a class at  Leelanau State Park.  Call 231-386-5422  for more info on this one.  The final opportunity will be at  Petoskey State Park.  Call  Petoskey State Park to get info.  All of these course are through the Fresh Air Fit program and all of their info is at http://www.michigan.gov/freshfit . Doug Reeves with Michigan DNR wrote a very interesting article about a beautiful flower called Showy Lady Slippers, a member of the Orchid family.  Apparently this flower is becoming hard to find in Michigan's UP.  His article is at http://goo.gl/uCrn0 UFWS is reporting on the positive b...

MADISON – Though summer has just begun, a key deadline of August 1 is approaching for those interested in getting permits for many hunting and trapping seasons this fall. Those planning to participate in the fall turkey, Canada geese (Horicon Zone), bobcat, fisher, otter or wolf seasons must have their permit applications in by midnight, Aug. 1. Permit applications can be purchased from authorized license agents, over the Internet through the Department of Natural Resources Online Licensing Center or by phone toll free at 1-877-945-4236. The costs to apply vary by permit type and can be found at the DNR's  resident hunting, fishing and recreational license  web page, or by visiting dnr.wi.gov and searching keyword “license.” Fall turkey There will be 96,700 wild turkey permits available to hunters for the fall 2013 turkey hunting season, the same number of permits as offered in 2012. Any fall turkey permits remaining after the initial drawing will go on sale beginn...

Iowa’s woodlands have shrunk by 40,000 acres, according to the latest Forest Inventory Analysis conducted by the USDA Forest Service, marking the first time since 1974 that Iowa has lost woodland acres. To put it in perspective, that’s more woodland acres lost than the Iowa Department of Natural Resources State Parks Bureau (34,000 acres) and Forestry Bureaus’ state forests (36,000 acres) manage. “This report provides us with hard data that backs up our anecdotal evidence,” said Paul Tauke, chief of the Forestry Bureau and State Forester for the Iowa DNR. “We’re seeing more tree clearing in the last three years than the previous 20 years.” Based on the report, Iowa’s forest acres have dropped below the 3 million mark. “Our concern as foresters is, we would like to see more trees out there, not fewer,” he said. Pre-settlement, Iowa had an estimated 6.8-7 million woodland acres. At its peak, about 18 percent of the state was wooded. Today, Iowa has about 3 percent wooded. “This is the ...

DRAW FOR INDIANA HUNT Dove Draw Hunt Applications accepted online July 1 - 28, 2013.  Don't forget, hunters must possess a Game Bird Habitat Stamp when hunting doves (those that have lifetime comprehensive hunting licenses or resident youth hunt/trap licenses do not need to purchase the stamp, since it's included in those licenses). Non-toxic shot is required at all DNR properties, including reservoir properties. Properties: Bluegrass, Jasper-Pulaski, J. E. Roush Lake, Kankakee, Kingsbury, LaSalle, Pigeon River, Willow Slough, and Winamac FWAs, and Mississinewa and Salamonie Reservoirs. Applicants may choose the property, but dates (typically Sept. 1 or 2, except at Bluegrass FWA) will be assigned to successful applicants. Successful applicants may bring one hunting partner. Draw results will be posted online at least one week after the deadline to apply. Military/Refuge Firearm Deer Draw Hunt Applications accepted online July 1 - August 25, 2013. Applicants d...

The Department of Natural Resources reminds hunters that applications for fall turkey hunting licenses are on sale starting today through Aug. 1. A total of 51,850 licenses are available; 5,150 general licenses that may be used on public or private land and 46,700 licenses for private land only. Eleven wild turkey management units, totaling 44,943 square miles, are open to fall turkey hunting during the Sept. 15 - Nov. 14 season, including most of the southern Lower Peninsula, Beaver Island, five counties in the northern Lower Peninsula and the entire Upper Peninsula. "We are in the first year of a three-year period of stabilized regulations that were developed by working with turkey hunting groups," explained Al Stewart, the DNR's upland game bird specialist. "Regulations are generally similar to last year with the only change being the re-opening of turkey management units J, T and WA." Hunters may apply for a turkey hunting license at any authorized licens...

Eastern box turtles, like this one,  inhabit woodlands in southern Michigan. Humans have used dogs as helpers in innumerable pursuits for centuries, and that relationship seems to expand daily. John Rucker, a life-long bird hunting enthusiast, has always kept dogs to help him pursue upland game, but he’s also trained his Boykin spaniels to perform an unusual task. Rucker’s dogs have been trained to find and retrieve turtles. John Rucker, who uses Boykin spaniels to find and retrieve turtles,  recently found box turtles at Fort Custer State Recreation Area. The 65-year-old Tennessee resident was in Michigan recently to help members of the Department of Natural Resources’ Parks and Recreation Division find Eastern box turtles at Fort Custer State Recreation Area, near Battle Creek. The box turtles, a species of concern in Michigan, inhabit the woodlands and adjacent fields of Fort Custer. Parks and Recreation staffers are attempting to understand the turtles’ season...