North Dakota: Flooding Affects Shooting Ranges, Moffit to Hold Public Sight-in Days

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High water and the after-effects of flooding along the Missouri River will likely keep some public shooting ranges closed throughout the fall.

MacLean Bottoms range south of Bismarck, Wilton Mine range near Wilton, and Lewis and Clark range south of Williston are all closed until further notice.

Schmidt Bottoms range south of Mandan and Riverdale Wildlife Management Area range near Riverdale remain open.

To alleviate congestion in the Bismarck-Mandan area, the Bismarck-Mandan Rifle and Pistol Association, in cooperation with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, will host several public sight-in days over the next two months at their club shooting range near Moffit.

Jon Hanson, Game and Fish Department hunter education and range grant coordinator, said area residents are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity, especially with MacLean Bottoms and Wilton ranges closed due to flooding.

“The only public range available in the area is at Schmidt Bottoms south of Mandan,” Hanson said. “It is relatively small, and will most likely be crowded as hunting season approaches.”

To help minimize traffic at Schmidt Bottoms, Hanson said BMRPA has agreed to provide opportunities for the general public. In addition to a public sight-in weekend already scheduled for Oct. 1-2 (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.), public shooters are invited to BMRPA Sept. 9, 4-7 p.m.; Sept. 23, 4-7 p.m.; Sept. 24, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Oct. 14, 4-7 p.m.; Oct. 22, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; and Oct. 29, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Shooters must abide by club rules, Hanson said, which are listed on the BMRPA website,bmrpa.org. “All participants are asked to respect the property, in addition to other shooters,” Hanson said.

The BMRPA club range is located near Moffit at 13839 262 St. SE. GPS coordinates are N 46°39′5.4″ W -100°22′30.7″. A printable map with directions is available on the BMRPA website.

Shooters sighting in firearms should always wear hearing and eye protection, keep their gun pointed in a safe direction, keep fingers off the trigger until ready to shoot, keep guns unloaded until ready to use, and identify the target and know what is beyond.

Michigan: DNR Offers Deer Hunting Workshop for Women in West Bloomfield Sept. 17

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The Department of Natural Resources is offering women an opportunity to learn the skills needed to take part in one of Michigan's favorite hunting traditions with a Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) Deer Hunting Workshop. The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Detroit Archers Club.

Both archery and firearms deer seasons will be covered, including:

• deer hunting regulations, rules and deer health;
• deer hunting equipment and scent control;
• scouting and habitat - where to find deer and places to hunt;
• safety and hunting etiquette in the field; and
• caring for and processing game after the harvest.

The workshop costs $20 per person, including lunch and all materials. Registration must be received by Sept. 9 in order to participate.

The Detroit Archers Club is located at 5795 Drake Rd. in West Bloomfield. For driving directions and more information about the club, visit www.detroitarchers.com.

For registration forms and information on this and other BOW events, visit www.michigan.gov/bow, email dnr-outdoors-woman@michigan.gov or call 517-241-2225.

BOW is a noncompetitive program for women, in which each individual is encouraged to learn at her own pace. The emphasis is on the enjoyment, fun and camaraderie of outdoor activities, and sharing in the success of one another.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go towww.michigan.gov/dnr.

Wisconsin: Hunt. Harvest. Help. New CWD website launched

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MADISON – Hunters and landowners can learn more about what they can do to maintain a healthy deer herd and Wisconsin’s strong hunting traditions through a new website dedicated to sharing information on Chronic Wasting Disease.

The website, www.knowcwd.com, carries the theme of “Hunt. Harvest. Help” and features racing champion Matt Kenseth, a deer hunter and Cambridge, Wis., native, in a public service announcement talking about the importance of teamwork in tackling CWD.

"As a deer hunter, I'm concerned about CWD," Kenseth says in a video public service announcement on the website. "But it's going to take more than one person to slow the spread of CWD…It's a team effort Wisconsin. So get out there and hunt, harvest and help."

Hunt, Harvest, Help.
WDNR Photo

Department of Natural Resources wildlife officials say the website was developed to share information on how CWD is spread, where the disease exists in the Wisconsin deer population and what other states with CWD are doing about it. There also is information about human health risks. Several additional tabs on the website direct visitors to information on how individuals can help, frequently asked questions and videos.

The website also links to important CWD management information including Wisconsin’s CWD Response Plan and current and past CWD research and statistics.

“CWD has the potential for significant, negative impacts on the future of deer and deer hunting anywhere it exists,” said Davin Lopez, DNR’s CWD coordinator. “Minimizing the area of Wisconsin where the disease occurs is the responsible thing to do. Wisconsin’s current CWD policy is containment, rather than elimination of the disease. Hunter and landowner participation is key to this effort.

Beginning the week of Aug. 15 TV viewers in the CWD management zone will see CWD public service announcements featuring Kenseth. Also the "Hunt. Harvest. Help." theme will appear on billboards, in print ads and in other online sources.

The website and materials were developed with the aid of a U.S. Department of Agriculture/Veterinary Services grant and a private sector communications firm.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Davin Lopez (608)267-2948

Wisconsin Outdoor Report as of August 18, 2011

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Moderate temperatures and low humidity in much of the state made for more pleasant conditions for outdoors activities. Angler survey shows August is still a good time for fishing for many species, and anglers in many parts around the state proved that over the week.

In lakes and rivers in the Upper Chippewa Basin, which includes Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties, anglers enjoyed some pleasant fishing conditions, with musky and bass becoming especially active. Musky success showed a nice little surge and most anglers reported some good action from small and medium-size fish. The fish seemed to be active along the weed edges and deep break lines, with jerks baits and swim baits the most productive. Action for both largemouth and smallmouth bass has been consistent and some very nice fish have been caught and released in the last week.

Rough boating conditions on Lake Michigan over the weekend in Sheboygan and Ozaukee counties kept fishing pressure down. In Racine, once the lake settled down, trollers have been catching chinooks along with a few rainbows and coho. Most fish have been found in 80 to 140 feet of water, and flashers and flies as well as spoons have produced. Green glow-in-the-dark, purple, and blue spoons have produced, as well as blue and green flies. Perch fishing has dwindled in Racine, and shore fishing for trout and salmon remains slow as well.

In Lake Michigan near Kenosha, fish have moved further offshore since the weekend winds. Trollers have recently had success catching chinooks and a few rainbows and coho in 90 to 140 feet of water. Perch fishing has slowed in Kenosha for both boats and shore anglers. A few brown trout have been caught in the harbor, but those have been few and far between.

Walleye fishing is still going good on the Wolf River in Waupaca County. Drag a half of a night crawler on the bottom and you'll have a chance at some great success. Crappies are starting to bite too.

Anglers on the Wisconsin River have been finding good smallmouth bass fishing in Columbia and Sauk counties now that waters have returned to near normal stage. Topwater lures seem to be the key.

On the Rock River, catfish are still being caught as well as some panfish. Some catfish are being found dead along that river so DNR is asking anyone finding a fresh specimen or a catfish near death to contact local fisheries staff so they can obtain a sample for testing to try to pinpoint the problem.

The cicadas are out and calling throughout the afternoon hours and it's a great time for butterfly watching. Monarchs and yellow swallowtails have been seen in numbers as well on various wildflowers like compass plant, bergamot, and cup plant.

Reports of deer are picking up. At Willow River State Park in west central Wisconsin, the deer fawns are losing their spots. Look for a doe and two fawns on the hillsides not far below the boat launch along the road. They tend to be out around evening meal time.

At Brunet Island State Park, it's been birds, birds, birds. Bald eagles, kingfishers, scarlet tanagers, rose-breasted grosbeaks, great blue herons, red winged blackbirds, sandhill cranes, red polls, and robins are just the start of the list staff have reported.

Wildflowers are putting on a show as well.

An updated web page Natural Resources Monthly, links to more information about August phenology, activities at their peak this time of the year, including butterfly watching, and online resources to help find new outdoors experiences and information to enjoy. Go to DNR's home page at dnr.wi.gov and look on the left-hand side for "natural resources."

Minnesota: Hunting seasons to open soon; DNR offers helpful reminders

Minnesota’s dove, rail and snipe seasons – the first small game hunting seasons of the fall – will open Thursday, Sept. 1, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
The state’s sandhill crane and early goose seasons open Sept. 3, followed by the small game and archery deer seasons on Saturday, Sept. 17. The duck season opens Sept. 24, the pheasant season Oct. 15, prairie chicken (by permit only) Oct. 22 and the statewide firearms deer season on Nov. 5. Youth waterfowl day is Sept. 10. Take a Kid Hunting Weekend is
Sept. 24-25. 
“Before long, the crisp mornings and the sight of orange- or camo-clad hunters will be common again,” said Dennis Simon, DNR wildlife chief. “Hunters should take a good look at the regulation book this year as a number of season, bag limit, and other changes have been implemented in the name of opportunity and simplicity.”
The 2011 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Handbook is available online. Copies soon will be available wherever hunting licenses are sold.
Simon said ruffed grouse, waterfowl, and deer numbers look good this year. Pheasant numbers, he predicted, will be down from last year. This is due to mortality from last winter’s deep snow and tough winter roosting conditions, plus a protracted cool, rainy spring that reduced survival rates of newly hatched chicks.
Other information hunters should know includes:

• Walk In Access (WIA) program: Lands enrolled and posted in this new program will be open to public hunting from Sept. 1 through May 31.
• Take a Kid Hunting Weekend: This annual event will coincide with duck season opener. Adult residents accompanied by a youth under age 16 may hunt small game without a license or Minnesota waterfowl stamp on Sept. 24-25. 
• Sandhill cranes: The state’s second sandhill crane hunting season will open Sept 3. It is limited to the northwest goose zone in northwestern Minnesota.  A valid small game license and sandhill crane hunting permit ($3) are required. The agency is preparing a sandhill crane management plan to guide the bird’s future management in Minnesota. This will include identifying any additional crane breeding monitoring or assessment needs.
• Chronic Wasting Disease: CWD’s presence in southeastern Minnesota has prompted several regulatory changes, including the creation of a new CWD management area called Area 602. Deer harvested in this area will be subject to mandatory sampling for certain deer, as well as additional transportation requirements.
• Hunter Choice: This new deer area designation will allow hunters to take one either-sex deer without having to enter the either-sex deer permit lottery or possess an either-sex permit.
• Apprentice Hunter Validation Program: This program, which previously allowed a one-year exemption from firearms safety certification, has been changed to allow a two-year exemption.   
• Handgun possession: The possession of a handgun by a person authorized to carry and possess other firearms not legal for big game is allowed while muzzleloader hunting.
• Early antlerless deer season: This season is not being offered this year. If necessary, it will be offered in 2012.
• Deer stands: The 16-foot height restriction for elevated stands has been removed.
• Site Validation coupons: These will be required for trappers harvesting fisher, pine marten and river otter.
• Bear baiting: Drums may be used on private land.   

A complete calendar of hunting and fishing season openers, closings and lottery application deadlines is available online.

North Dakota Landowners Looking for Doe Hunters

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is currently working with 30 landowners in 19 hunting units across the state who would like to host antlerless deer hunters in 2011. The current list of landowners has nearly 350 openings for doe hunters.

Participating landowners are located in hunting units 2C, 2D, 2G2, 2I, 2J2, 2K2, 3A4, 3B3, 3C, 3D1, 3D2, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4B, 4D, 4E and 4F.

The program is not intended for buck hunters, but designed to direct hunters with antlerless licenses to specific areas to reduce deer populations.

Interested hunters can get their name on a list of possible participants by accessing the Game and Fish Department’s website at gf.nd.gov. Hunters who do not have Internet access can call the department’s main office in Bismarck at (701) 328-6300.

Hunters will provide their address, hunting unit(s) where they hold valid antlerless licenses, and if using rifle, muzzleloader or bow. From this list the department will select the number of hunters landowners have agreed to host. These hunters will be sent the landowner’s name, phone number and any information relating to the landowner’s specific situation.

Not everyone who signs up will end up with a new place to hunt, because not everyone’s schedule will match up with a landowner’s, and more people will likely put their name on the list than there are openings.

North Dakota’s 2011 regular deer gun season runs from Nov. 4-20. In addition, the archery season extends from Sept. 2 through Jan. 8, 2012; the youth season is from Sept. 16-25; and muzzleloader runs from Nov. 25 – Dec. 11.

Michigan: NRC Names Work Group for Mentored Youth Hunting Program

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Aug. 12, 2011

The Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) has named a six-member ad hoc committee to bring back recommendations to the NRC later this year for specific rules for the new Mentored Youth Hunt program. The program was established under a law signed by Governor Rick Snyder earlier this year.

The six members serving on the committee are:

• Tyler Goode of St. Clair Shores, a youth representing Pheasants Forever
• Jonathon Kneiper of Chesaning, a youth representing the National Wild Turkey Federation
• Emily Caretti of Warren, a youth representing the Michigan Trappers & Predator Callers
• Vic Ouellette of Gaylord, representing hunter education instructors
• Peter Wyckoff of Ann Arbor, representing Ducks Unlimited
• Liz Roxberry of Lansing, representing the Michigan United Conservation Clubs

NRC Commissioner John Matonich of Davison will chair the committee.

The committee is charged with recommending specific rules that may be necessary to participate in mentored youth hunting, developing program evaluation and evaluating the effectiveness of current youth hunting opportunities.

The committee also will develop an informal survey designed to collect public input on its charges and other topics related to youth hunting.

"We wanted to include youth representation on this committee because this entire program is geared toward getting more Michigan youth involved in hunting and fishing," said NRC Chair Tim Nichols. "Their input, experiences and perspectives will be invaluable to this process, and we will be looking to include youth involvement in other natural resources management issues in the future."

The Hunter Heritage legislation opens opportunities for hunters under the age of 10 to participate in Michigan's hunting seasons in conjunction with the mentored youth hunting program under development by the NRC. The legislation also created the Mentored Youth Hunting license.

"This program addresses one of my four priorities as DNR director - to stabilize and reverse the decline in participation in outdoor recreation in Michigan," said DNR Director Rodney Stokes. "Along with the NRC, I look forward to the work of this committee, especially the perspective of the youth."

The Youth Mentored Hunt program will be ready for the 2012 hunting seasons, with the licenses available for purchase by March 1, 2012, the start of the new license year.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information about the department, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.