Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report

. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Snow and cold across much of the state improved late winter recreation opportunities, especially in northern Wisconsin, including ice fishing, snowmobiling and skiing.

Snow conditions are good to excellent in Bayfield and Sawyer counties for the American Birkebeiner Race this weekend. The largest cross-country ski race in North America is expected to attract 10,000 skiers this weekend. Snowmobile trials are also in good riding condition across most of the northern half of the state, with the best conditions in the northern tier of counties. Potawatomi State Park received more than 3-inches of snow so far this week and snowmobile trials are open. They are also open in Flambeau River State Forest, where conditions are good to excellent.

Many others to the south are in poor condition, or closed, including Sauk County’s 400 State Trail.

While ice depths are good in the 18-20 inch range on most Northwood’s lakes, fishing success has been sporadic. Ice fishing has been fair in Oneida County with anglers reporting mixed bags of multiple species on the Willow Flowage.

Panfishing has picked up this past week, along with crappie, bluegill and perch on many Bayfield County lakes with jigs and wax worms as a topper working best for bluegills and smaller minnows on a jig has been working best when catching both perch and crappie. On Lake Minocqua anglers have had decent panfish action.Some nice panfish have also been caught in Shawano County.

A few browns and rainbows have been caught on spawn sacs and shiners off Racine County. In Brown County, perch are the species of choice at Sunset Beach in Suamico, jigging with minnows or wax worms. Anglers report the bite has been sporadic with mornings been the best time to fish.

The 16-day Winnebago sturgeon season will wrap up this weekend. As of Wednesday, on Lake Winnebago, 246 sturgeon had been taken despite poor water clarity in many areas.

Panfish anglers still have time to can catch one of the nearly 30 panfish plan meetings statewide February and March. The public meetings mark the opening phases of efforts by DNR fisheries management to better connect with anglers in Wisconsin. Those attending meetings will be asked to fill out a short questionnaire to help DNR understand their concerns, issues and priorities for panfish. The questionnaire and background materials presented at the meeting are available online.

The 2013 Great Backyard Bird Count concluded on February 18 with more than 3,400 checklists of 134 birds species submitted across Wisconsin. Eagle Appreciation Day is Saturday in Prairie du Chien. And eagles can be seen from the park overlooks and Wisconsin Ridge Campground. They have also been seen soaring over Flambeau River State Forest this week. Turkeys have been seen and heard this week in Oconto, Sauk and Richland counties.

Birders reported significant signs of spring this past week, including singing northern cardinals and black-capped chickadees, drumming woodpeckers, courtship flights of common ravens, and trumpeter swans north all the way to Lake Superior. Sandhill cranes returned to the state in good numbers across southern Wisconsin on Monday, and, bluebirds, a sure sign of warmer, greener days ahead, are here, or on their way, so make sure you put up, or clean out bluebird houses.

Related articles

• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report summary (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com)
• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Report summary for January 17, 2013 (family-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Wisconsin (family-outdoors.blogspot.com)

Bowhunters of Missouri choose Henry as Agent of the Year

Written by Candice Davis, MDC

WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Douglas County Conservation Agent Mark Henry has received the prestigious United Bowhunters of Missouri Agent of the Year Award for 2012. Henry was presented the award at the recent United Missouri Bowhunters banquet held in Jefferson City.

Henry’s supervisor, Protection Regional Supervisor Gary Cravens, said Agent Henry is known for making unique and quality wildlife arrests.

This year he took advantage of the Telecheck system, had excellent public cooperation, and utilized Operation Game Thief to assist in investigating possible archery violations, Cravens said.

“Without a doubt, he had an outstanding archery season with many exceptional wildlife violation cases,” Cravens said.

MDC Douglas County Conservation Agent Mark Henry received the prestigious
 United Bowhunters of Missouri Agent of the Year Award for 2012.

Henry is an avid archery hunter and enjoys sharing his archery knowledge with the public. Henry was a pivotal member in the formation of the city of Ava’s first Mother/Son Outdoor Adventure event. He helped organize the seventh annual National Wild Turkey Federation Jakes event in Douglas County with an emphasis on a youth archery station. He assisted Ava school administration in setting up the Missouri National Archery in the Schools Program (MONASP) at the Ava Middle School. He worked at the popular “Hootin’ and Hollerin” archery event in Ozark County, and conducted archery programs for events that reached those who might not otherwise be introduced to the sport of archery. Henry spent valuable hours this year in his local schools teaching youth the importance of firearms and archery techniques and safety, Cravens said.

According to Cravens, Henry’s resourceful law enforcement and effective balance of program responsibilities contributed to his selection of this honor. “Henry has developed a tremendous wildlife law enforcement and public relations program in Douglas County,” Cravens said. “He represents the MDC and his division well.”

Agent Henry’s home town is Fordland, Mo. He earned a degree in Animal Science from College of the Ozarks and joined the Department of Conservation in 2002. He held jobs with Wildlife and Forestry Divisions prior to being accepted into the conservation agent training class in 2005. After six months of intensive training, Henry was assigned to Douglas County.

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DNR mailing deer survey to hunters and landowners in southwestern Minnesota

About 8,000 landowners and hunters across 14 southwestern Minnesota counties will receive deer surveys from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) this spring.

Results from the in-depth survey will help the DNR better understand the experiences and attitudes of hunters and landowners about deer and deer hunting in southwestern Minnesota, said Gino D’Angelo, DNR deer project leader.

“We hope to get a high response rate on this survey,” D’Angelo said. “This will be one factor in helping us determine whether changes in deer hunting regulations are necessary to meet deer population goals in the future.”

Hunter surveys will be mailed to about 3,600 adult firearm hunters who indicated they hunt in southwestern Minnesota. The survey will ask questions about hunting success, deer populations and interest in management techniques such as antler point restrictions, buck-only hunting, youth-only seasons and varied dates for seasons.

Landowner surveys will be mailed to approximately 4,400 landowners owning at least 160 acres in southwestern Minnesota. They will be asked about the impact deer or other wildlife have had on their land, whether or not they hunted and ideas they have for deer management in their area.

Surveys will be sent in three separate mailings in March and April. Preliminary results from the surveys are expected this summer.

Counties included in the survey are Brown, Cottonwood, Jackson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock, Watonwan and Yellow Medicine.

More information on deer in Minnesota can be found here.

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Pure Michigan Hunt winners - from McBain, Kawkawlin and Westland - take home their prizes

The three Michigan hunters randomly chosen as the 2013 Pure Michigan Hunt winners - Jim Bosscher of McBain, Dave Gittins of Kawkawlin and Jason Webb of Westland - received their prizes at last Feb. 7's Natural Resources Commission meeting in Lansing.

Each winner gets a license to hunt in every limited-access hunt available in 2013. This includes elk, bear, antlerless deer, and spring and fall turkey, as well as first choice at a managed waterfowl area during any open hunting season in the state.

"My friends didn't believe me until they saw my name in the paper a few weeks ago," said Gittins, who owns a roofing business in Kawkawlin. "I still can't believe it!"

Bosscher, the sherriff of Missaukee County, also needed some convincing that he had won. "I thought someone was playing a joke on me, so I had to call around to make sure this was real," he explained.

In addition to the hunting licenses, the Pure Michigan Hunt winners also received the ultimate hunting prize package.

"I can't wait to get home and go through everything again," said Marine Corps veteran Jason Webb.

Winners received the following prizes donated by Michigan companies and organizations:

• 2012 Darton Crossbow package
• 30.06 Ruger Model 77 rifle from Michigan Gun Owners
• 12 GA shotgun from the Lake Effect Chapter of the Michigan Duck Hunters Association
• Camouflage ground blind from Ameristep
• Two-day/two-night guided spring turkey hunt from East Lake Outfitters
• Custom rear-window graphic from Steel Skinz Graphics
• Gas cards and magazine subscriptions from Michigan United Conservation Clubs
• Sitka camouflage clothing package from Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
• Camouflage vest, custom box call and patch from the National Wild Turkey Federation
• Rapid River knife, duck decoy and membership from Ducks Unlimited
• Herd monitoring kit and membership from Quality Deer Management Association
• National and local memberships from Safari Club International
• Sweatshirt and hat from South West Lake Erie Chapter of Waterfowl USA

The 2013 lottery drew a total of 29,295 applications. Dollars generated from this opportunity fund wildlife habitat restoration and improvements in Michigan.

Applications for the 2014 Pure Michigan Hunt go on sale online at all retail license agents and online starting March 1. Hunters may purchase as many Pure Michigan Hunt applications as they like for $4 apiece. Visitwww.michigan.gov/puremichiganhunt for more information.

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Michigan DNR now taking applications for deer habitat improvement grants

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sportsmen's clubs and other non-government organizations interested in deer habitat improvement on private land in the Upper Peninsula are encouraged to apply for Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership Initiative grants now through Sunday, March 31, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources announced today.

A total of $50,000 will be available in 2013 through the competitive DHIPI grant process. Project proposals from organizations with a formal mission to promote wildlife conservation and/or hunting seeking between $2,000 and $10,000 in funding are eligible for consideration.

Now in its fifth year, the DHIPI grant program is designed to attract and support proposals from non-government organizations interested in improving deer habitat on non-state-owned land in the Upper Peninsula, including private property and Commercial Forest Act-enrolled land. (Projects that provide foot access to the public are more likely to be successful.)

"There are three primary goals applicants should strive to meet," said DNR private lands wildlife biologist Bill Scullon. "The projects should produce tangible deer habitat improvements, build long-term partnerships with the DNR, and identify ways to showcase the benefits to the public."

Scullon said he encourages representatives of interested organizations to contact their local DNR wildlife biologist for help in developing competitive project proposals.

In 2012, six projects were funded in 11 Upper Peninsula counties, improving deer habitat on a total of 691 acres of private industrial forest and federal land.

The projects completed in 2012 ranged from planting red oak seedlings in Mackinac County to creating or improving wildlife openings in Delta, Menominee and Ontonagon counties. In addition to improving deer habitat, successful projects in Delta and Iron counties also provided improved access for youth and disabled hunters.

The DHIPI grant application packet can be accessed online by visiting www.michigan.gov/dnr-grants and clicking on the "Deer Habitat Improvement Partnership Initiative" link. Application deadline is Sunday, March 31; successful applicants will be notified by Monday, April 15. For more information, contact Bill Scullon at 906-563-9247 orscullonh@michigan.gov.

DHIPI grants are funded by the state's Deer Range Improvement Program (DRIP). Created by legislation in 1971, the DRIP fund is supported by a $1.50 allocation from each deer license sold (except for senior licenses), which equals $2.2 to $2.8 million in funding annually. This restricted funding is for the enhancement, maintenance, and acquisition of deer habitat statewide.

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Growing number of Michigan deer hunters give crossbows a try

Although the overall number of hunters in Michigan has been on a slight decline, the Department of Natural Resources reports that a recent deer hunter survey shows growth in one method of deer hunting - crossbows.

In the past, only hunters with disabilities had the option to hunt with a crossbow. Beginning in 2009, crossbows were allowed in most areas of Michigan during the archery deer season in an attempt to expand hunting opportunities, retain existing hunters and recruit new hunters. Crossbow hunters were required to obtain a free crossbow stamp to determine the number of hunters who took advantage of the new method.

In 2009, the opportunity to use a crossbow was extended only to hunters 50 years of age or older in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula, while hunters of any age could use crossbows in the southern Lower Peninsula. In 2010 the age restriction was eliminated statewide.

The archery deer season runs statewide on public and private land and is divided into early and late season segments (Oct. 1 through Nov. 14 and Dec. 1 through Jan. 1). In the Upper Peninsula, crossbows are only allowed to be used in the early archery season.

"We have discovered that in 2011, 25 percent of the crossbow users had not hunted in the archery season in previous years," said DNR Deer and Elk Program Leader Brent Rudolph. "These hunters were newly recruited or drawn back to the sport of archery hunting."

The opinion survey also revealed that hunting with a crossbow met most or all of the archers' expectations, and nearly all crossbow hunters planned to use crossbows again in the future.

The number of hunters who obtained the free crossbow stamp by year is:

• 2009 - 45,692
• 2010 - 64,340
• 2011 - 74,120
• 2012 - 88,565

Although the expanded opportunity increased the number of archery hunters, the amount of deer harvested overall during the archery season did not increase each year. Harvest of deer over all seasons combined declined or was similar to previous years.

"With close to 800,000 hunters in Michigan annually, we know deer hunting is a strong tradition held by many," said DNR Wildlife Division Chief Russ Mason. "The expanded crossbow regulations met all the expectations we hoped for. Our primary goal is to do a good job managing the deer herd, and if new hunting opportunities can also be made, that's a good thing."

To view the entire Crossbow Deer Hunter Survey report, go to www.michigan.gov/hunting and click on Wildlife Surveys and Reports in the left-hand navigation bar.

Hunters are reminded to fill out their 2012 deer harvest survey by going online tohttps://secure1.state.mi.us/deersurvey.

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Numerous hunter education courses open statewide in Wisconsin

Hunter and dog with their catch. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Enroll today so you are ready for opening day of all seasons

MADISON – More than 40 percent of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Hunter Education courses are held in spring, making this an opportune time for you to enroll to complete the class to ensure you can hunt when you want to hunt.

“This truly is the best time to get this important course completed. All too often we see how time can get away from people and suddenly we are into the seasons, and the courses are either full or no longer being held,” Hunter Education Administrator and Warden Jon King said. “If you complete the course early in the year, you are scout, target shoot and have fun preparing so you are ready to take to the woods on opening day.”

The hunter education courses are led by trained and certified volunteer instructors and are offered statewide throughout the year.

Easy ways to get do the course

There are three ways to get hunter education certified:

• Basic Hunter Education – A classroom setting of about 10 hours. Students learn how hunting accidents are caused and how they can be prevented. Hunter responsibility and safety are stressed throughout the classes through lectures, demonstrations, group discussions, practical exercises, and individual study and activity assignments. In most cases, the course also includes a Saturday or Sunday field day at the range. Cost is $10.
• Online Internet Hunter Education and Field Day – Register for a hunter ed internet field day after passing an online course approved by the DNR. You’ll spend a day in the field with certified online hunter instructors testing what you learned online. The field day is mandatory to earn your hunter education safety certification. Cost is $10, and can range depending on what online course you choose.
• Adult (18 years of age or older) Online Internet Hunter Education Test Out – Anyone age 18 or older can register for an adult test out scheduled bi-monthly at DNR service centers. Required online course www.huntercourse.com/usa/wisconsin/ costs $24.95 plus a $10 DNR fee.

To find a course or to sign up for the online course, search the DNR website for hunter education and click on the button for "find a class."

“Thanks to the Hunter Education program, hunting is safe and getting safer,” King said.

Hunter education covers the firearm handling skills, regulations, and responsibilities of a safe and ethical hunter. Nearly 30,000 Wisconsin youths and adults get hunter ed-certified every year. Wisconsin hunter certification is recognized by all states and provinces requiring hunter education.

“Get enrolled now and join the ranks of today’s hunter education graduates who are ensuring the future of our hunting heritage,” King said.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Jon King – 608-575-2294

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