Outdoor News Archive

Public hearings for proposed permanent rules to help prevent the spread of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) are set for August 14, 15, 16, 20 and 23 at locations across the state. The proposed rules would make permanent emergency rules now in place that affect boaters, anglers and other water users as well as the bait industry...

Shorebird migration is beginning to heat up with many adults and even a few first-year birds staging in Wisconsin on their way to points farther south. Tree swallows are beginning to stage in large groups and sandhill cranes are beginning to flock up in recently harvested farm fields...

With a lack of rain over the past few weeks over much of the state, the dry conditions have water levels on many lakes and rivers extremely low, and wild fire danger has risen across the state, which is unusual for mid summer. Fire danger levels have reached high in south central Wisconsin and are moderate across the rest of the state. Burning permits were suspended in Douglas and Bayfield counties this week. The Wisconsin River is running near historic lows in southern Wisconsin and was at less than half its historical flow for this time of year at Wisconsin Dells...

Rivers and streams around the state are reporting low water levels. Boat anglers traveling on these waterways will want to take it slow and use extreme caution. Water temperatures are warm so anglers will want to fish the deeper holes...

Michigan Department of Natural Resources' park and recreation officials announced today that the Torch River Bridge and the Torch River Boating Access Sites (BAS) located in Antrim and Kalkaska counties have become user fee sites to better manage their use. A BAS permit will now be required to enter these sites...

Department of Natural Resources wildlife officials announced today that due to low water levels in the Great Lakes, two reserved hunts at Fish Point State Wildlife Area and Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area will not take place this fall...

Department of Natural Resources' state park and recreation officials announced today that Burt Lake State Park is hosting a free GPS (Global Positioning Systems) event on Tuesday, Aug. 14...

Department of Natural Resources officials today announced that the north loop of the Pickerel Lake State Forest Campground will be closed until further notice due to an inoperable well. The campground is located in Otsego County, via the Sturgeon River Road northeast of Vanderbilt in the Pigeon River Country State Forest...

The Department of Natural Resources is offering a free basic archery instructor (BAI) course, Wednesday, Aug. 29, at the Owosso High School in Owosso, located in Shiawassee County...

Be among the first to see artwork that will be used on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) 2008 Trout and Salmon stamp next month in St. Paul...

Landowners interested in attracting wild turkeys are encouraged to seek information about habitat improvement projects rather than introducing pen-raised or game farm turkeys on their property...

Reported harvests from last fall by Minnesota pheasant hunters were the highest since 1964, according to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR)...

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is making $476,000 available to local conservation organizations interested in working on wildlife habitat improvement projects on wildlife management areas throughout the state...

Anglers and others who want to host fishing tournaments in 2008 can submit applications beginning Aug. 1...

With nearly 6,000 campsites and cabins, as many or more picnic sites, miles of trail and a host of scenic locations and recreational activities to choose from, visitors to Minnesota’s 72 state parks and recreation areas have a lot of options...

Wild turkey broods are becoming more and more visible as they forage in fields and grassy openings...

With the seasonal summer weather of the past week, boating and water recreation has been at its peak with most lakes bustling with activity. Boaters should be especially cautious around swim areas and beaches as many people are swimming during the warm weather. Although much of the state received some rain in the past week, many lakes and rivers are extremely low for this time of year. Water levels on some Northwoods lakes are...

For the third year in a row, relatively mild winter weather across the north is expected to result in high level of survival and good reproductive rates in white-tailed deer, according to state wildlife biologists. They estimate that the Wisconsin whitetail population will be between 1.6 and 1.8 million animals this fall...

Waterfowl hunters in Wisconsin would have an 85-day Canada goose season in the Exterior zone with a two goose daily bag limit, six tags in the Horicon and Collins Canada goose zones, and a 60-day duck season under a preliminary season proposal state officials will present this week at the Mississippi Flyway Council...

Practices to protect water quality while harvesting timber were correctly applied over 94 percent of the time on federal and industrial timber sales in 2006, based on the results of a monitoring effort coordinated by the Department of Natural Resources Forestry Division...

Disabled gun deer hunters who qualify for a Class A, long-term Class B or Class C disabled hunting permit and hunt sponsors have until September 1 to complete the application process for the October 6-14 disabled gun deer hunt...

Fishing slowed somewhat last week due to rain and thunderstorms. It should pick up this week if the weather stabilizes...

The Department of Natural Resources Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program is offering an advanced level Beyond BOW salmon fishing workshop, Aug. 17-19, out of the Fairport Marina at the tip of the Garden Peninsula in Delta County. Fishing will take place in northern Lake Michigan...

The Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) recently approved three deer regulation changes for the 2007 deer hunting season. Changes were made to antlerless deer license quotas, the late firearm deer season and the youth firearm deer season...