Other News S1007

NEWS #1 - 24th annual Kids' Ice Fishing Clinics set for Saturday, Feb.14

MILWAUKEE - Kids 15-years-old and younger are invited to discover the joys of ice fishing at the 24th annual Kids' Ice Fishing Clinics on Saturday, Feb. 14, at park lagoons in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties. 

The free clinics will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants will receive instruction on the proper use of equipment and techniques, such as knot tying, ice safety and much more. The clinics are taught by members of local fishing clubs and last 45 minutes, and then the young anglers can begin fishing. Classes begin every hour on the hour starting at 9 a.m., with the final session beginning at 2 p.m. 

"These clinics are an excellent way to introduce youngsters to the sport of fishing and a perfect opportunity for families that want to enjoy some of the outdoor recreational activities that Wisconsin has to offer," says Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp,

The clinics represent a cooperative effort by the Wisconsin Council of Sport Fishing Organizations, Milwaukee County Parks, Waukesha County Parks, the Hunger Task Force Fish Hatchery and the Department of Natural Resources.

All equipment and snacks are provided free of charge and instructions will be given regardless of weather. No pre-registration is required, but please call DNR Urban Fish Biologist Matt Coffaro at 414-263-8614 for groups of 20 or more, or for additional information. Listed below are the clinic locations and sponsoring fishing clubs:

Milwaukee County

• Humboldt Park, 3000 S. Howell Ave., hosted by Great Lakes Sport Fishermen & Milwaukee Casting Club
• McCarty Park, 8214 W. Cleveland, hosted by Southside Sportsmen Club
• Brown Deer Park, 7835 N. Green Bay Rd., hosted by Okauchee Fishing club
• Scout Lake, 5902 W. Loomis Rd., (wheelchair accessible) hosted by Walleyes Unlimited
• Wilson Park, 1601 W. Howard Ave., hosted by Wisconsin Fishing Club

Waukesha County

• Menomonee Park/Lannon Quarry, Townline Rd. (1/2 mile north of Good Hope Rd., Menomonee Falls), hosted by Badger Fishermen's League
• Fox Brook Park, 2925 N. Barker Rd., hosted by Wern Valley Sportsman's Club

Read more here:  http://dnr.wi.gov/news/releases/article/?id=3480

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: 
Matt Coffaro, DNR urban fish biologist, (414) 263-8614

NEWS #2 - DNR spring wildlife and fisheries rules hearing questionnaire available online

MADISON - The complete questionnaire for proposed changes to Wisconsin fish and wildlife rules that will be reviewed at the 2015 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources spring rules hearings is now available online.
On Monday, April 13, 2015, there will be 72 public hearings [PDF], one in each county where individuals interested in natural resources management have an opportunity to provide their input by non-binding vote and testimony on proposed rule changes and advisory questions relating to fish and wildlife management in Wisconsin. 

The questions cover a broad array of statewide and local proposed rules changes for state hunting, trapping and fishing rules, as well as advisory questions from the state Natural Resources Board and Wisconsin Conservation Congress. 

County residents have the option to run for a seat on the Wisconsin Conservation Congress, or elect other delegates from their county to represent their county views regarding natural resources on the Conservation Congress. Also, individuals have the opportunity to bring forth new conservation issues of a statewide nature to the attention of the Conservation Congress through the citizen resolution process.

People interested in attending the hearings are encouraged to review the questionnaire on line.

The fisheries questions relate to season, bag limit, and length limit regulations, including:

• expanding inland trout seasons and reducing the number of special regulations;
• changing panfish bag limits on 100 lakes to improve panfish average size; and
• removing or modifying dates and boundaries on 51 fish refuges.

Wildlife questions include:

• expanding the areas where waterfowl hunting;
• increasing the limit on the number of small game animals a person is allowed to possess;
• establish a 9 a.m. opening time on the first day of the pheasant, quail, Hungarian partridge, and southern rabbit seasons; and
• modifying the spring wild turkey hunting season opening date, among other rule changes.

Meeting results, along with written comments on the evening's questions and DNR recommendations are used to advise the state Natural Resources Board.

Votes are non-binding and are presented to the Natural Resources Board as advisory. The 2015 spring rules hearing questionnaire [PDF] is available by searching the DNR website, dnr.wi.gov for keywords "Spring Hearings."

Read more here: http://dnr.wi.gov/news/Weekly/Article/?id=3211

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: 
Kari Lee-Zimmerman, DNR congress liaison, (608) 266-0580
Bill Cosh, DNR spokesperson, (608) 267-2773

Others News S940-1

JD Smith, MacKenzie Center director photo c. WDNR ©2014

MacKenzie Center kicks off school year with new programs, partnerships

POYNETTE, Wis. -- With 11 new course offerings that build on topics taught in K-12 classrooms, the MacKenzie Center is welcoming 29 new schools and groups eager to participate in its unique environmental and conservation education and outdoor skills programs this year.

From forestry and stream studies to watershed mapping and an exploration of predator-prey relationships, classes at the MacKenzie Center provided hands-on field opportunities to 3,738 students from 90 schools and organizations so far this year. These experiences extended the knowledge and skills developed through regular classroom work. The January through August student numbers are slightly ahead of last year and will continue to grow as more of the new schools begin their involvement with the center.

Year-to-date, students from 16 counties stretching from La Crosse to Milwaukee to Juneau as well as northern Illinois have traveled to take part in MacKenzie programs. Principals and educational leaders from Wisconsin's sister state of Chiba Prefecture in Japan and students from Jianxi University in China also visited the center, which is just 25 miles north of Madison and easily accessible from Interstate Highway 39/90/94.

"With its historic conservation aura and educational opportunities designed for today's students, the MacKenzie Center increasingly draws participants from around our state and around the world," said Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp. "If you are an educator interested in cutting-edge environmental programs and outdoor skill building for your students, we like to say that all roads lead to MacKenzie."

JD Smith, MacKenzie Center director, said the center's curriculum draws on the comprehensive science, wildlife management and environmental protection expertise of DNR staff.

"The department's capabilities help set our programs apart from other nature centers," Smith said."Students gain a unique opportunity to work with members of our education staff and other experts from wildlife, forestry, fisheries and more. Many of our participating schools bring students back for multiple visits, which enables us to work with the teachers and their classes on a more advanced level."

Schools, community groups, home school families and others with an interest in learning more about MacKenzie Center programs are encouraged to contact the center's education staff at 608-635-8105 or email. Additional program details may be found online by searching the DNR website, for MacKenzie.

Read more here:

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

• JD Smith, MacKenzie Center director - (608) 635-8035


• Jennifer Sereno, communications - (608) 770-8084

Other News S729

Fishing in the Neighborhood program reels in new anglers High schoolers, buying fishing licenses These high schoolers, shown buying fishing licenses, have been recruited as “fishing buddies” to help younger kids fish with the Club de Pesca offered by Centro Hispano of Dane County and partners. photo courtesy WDNR ©2012 MADISON – Smiles shared, fish caught, and new licenses bought are testimony to the growing success of a partnership to introduce fishing to Wisconsin’s growing number of Latino and Hmong youngsters, state fisheries officials say. “Our goals are to welcome new people into the community of anglers, to help them establish a relationship with the resource and adopt Wisconsin’s tradition of stewardship,” says Theresa Stabo, Department of Natural Resources aquatic resources education director. “We’re very excited that our Fishing in the Neighborhood program is growing and that partner groups are getting important recognition and funding to expand their local efforts.” Centro Hispano of Dane County, one of the partnering groups, recently received a $30,000 grant from the national Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (exit DNR) for its bilingual fishing club, Club de Pesca. Centro Hispano Executive Director Kent Craig says the organization is very excited about the national grant and the ongoing relationship with DNR and other program partners. “What we’re hoping is to see young people get more opportunity to spend time on water fishing and learning more science,” he says. “In addition to expanding the program, we’re hoping to develop a replicable, culturally competent curriculum for offering fishing clubs in Latino communities.” DNR has long trained volunteer instructors in how to start their own fishing clubs for youngsters and others new to fishing. In recent years, DNR has focused more attention on working with partners to help start fishing clubs within minority communities, as was successfully done at the Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee and the Boys & Girls Club in Madison. This year, DNR has provided angler education training to college interns and is paying them stipends to work with five different youth organizations that serve low-income people of color. Andrea “Tess” Arenas at the UW-Madison Office of Service Learning and Community Based Research recruited the interns and identified organizations willing to partner with the state and supervise the interns. Interns have been placed at five community centers: Centro Hispano of Dane County, Boys & Girls Club of Dane County, Urban League of Greater Madison, Hmong Assistance Association in La Crosse, and the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe in Odanah. DNR is providing fishing equipment for the interns to use with the youngsters. The interns recruit members for the clubs, instruct the youngsters in basic fishing techniques, set up fishing trips and bring in guest speakers to talk to the participants about aquatic resources topics. In addition to a stipend, they earn college credit for their work. DNR pays for the costs of the clubs through the Sport Fish Restoration money it receives from the federal government from an excise tax on the sale of fishing equipment. Madison South Rotary Foundation provided additional funding for the Madison groups. It’s welcome seed money, says Centro Hispano’s Craig. “We wouldn’t have a program without the DNR,” he says. “Getting the national RBFF grant shows it was a wise investment.” Stabo says that DNR’s Fishing in the Neighborhood initiative recognizes that Latino and Hmong immigrants represent the fast-growing segments of Wisconsin’s population. “We want club members and their families to see fishing as a good choice for weekend or after-school activities, once summer ends and everyone is back at school.” Club de Pesca shows how the program seeks to make fishing a good choice by tailoring it to a specific culture. “Having a program which is free, based at a known agency and run by bilingual staff makes fishing much more accessible to the Latino community,” says Jannet Arenas, the intern who is leading the Centro Hispano program. Organizations interested in learning more about how to start a fishing club for new anglers, including Latino and Hmong organizations can contact Theresa Stabo at 608-266-2272. Read more here: For more information: Theresa Stabo - 608-266-2272 Tess Arenas, UW - 608-890-0876

Other News S725

Learn to hunt deer at Buckhorn State Park: Opportunity is not just for kids Learn to hunt deer at Buckhorn State Park Opportunity is not just for kids image courtesy WDNR ©2012 NECEDAH, Wis. -- Anyone 10 years old and older including novice adult hunters who have had an interest in hunting but weren’t sure how to give it a try are encouraged to consider a Learn-to-Hunt deer outing at Buckhorn State Park along the Castle Rock Flowage in Juneau County. Heather Wolf, Buckhorn State Park manager, says this is the 15th year the park has hosted a Learn to Hunt Deer Hunt program. “We have had 693 participants over the years. First time hunters and their chaperones have learned together at the workshop and have enjoyed their time spent in the woods,” Wolf said. To participate in the November 2012 hunt, search the Department of Natural Resources website for “Buckhorn,” and then click on the learn to deer hunt link on right column. Download the application form [PDF], complete it, and mail it to the address shown by August 10. There are two parts to the Learn to Hunt Deer at Buckhorn. First, a workshop is held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 8 or 9 at the LaValle Sportsman’s Club. Attendance by hunters and chaperones is mandatory. Second, the hunt occurs Nov. 3 and 4 at Buckhorn State Park and adjacent wildlife area. Applicants will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis and will be notified upon receipt of their applications. A chaperone must accompany each applicant. Applicants may select a chaperone (i.e., family or friend) or authorize Buckhorn staff to assign a qualified chaperone. This person will not be allowed to hunt or carry a firearm and must be at least 18 years old. The chaperone must have at least five years of deer hunting experience. The chaperone is necessary to ensure novice hunters get the complete hunting experience in a safe environment. Chaperones help hunters with firearm safety, deer identification, scouting, and field dressing, among other things. Successful applicants and their chaperones must attend a workshop in order to participate in the hunt. A hunting license is not required and back tags will be furnished. This is a bonus deer and will not preclude the harvest of a deer during the regular season. The bag limit will be one deer of either sex. Only shotguns will be permitted; muzzleloaders and rifles are not permitted. Chaperones also are needed, says Keith Warnke DNR Hunting and Shooting Sport Coordinator. “If you are a hunter and want to give back to the hunting heritage by getting a new hunter started, your skills are needed!” Warnke said. To volunteer to be a chaperone, contact the park at 608-565-2789 “Learn to Hunt events are a great way to break into hunting. Novice hunters paired up with an experienced hunter will learn about conservation, safety, ethics, deer hunting tactics and firearm safety during a one-day workshop,” Warnke said. “Then, the novice hunters get a chance to experience a two-day November gun deer hunt.” Read more here: For more information: Heather Wolf – 608-565-2789 Keith Warnke – 608-266-5243

DSORe eNews S631

VOL: eNews JULY 30, 2011  ISSUE: SHOW #631
•Share a ride, tell a story, save a park •14,000 fishing contests nationwide •Kickin’ bass on Chequamegon Bay •Sheboygan salmon action still sizzling •Dan sells a ton of Fish & Game Gourmet honey at Deer Fest •Jeff sets out trail cameras to search for that big one	CALL 1-414-297-7554 or eMail: outdoorsradio@gmx.com
RESULTS FOR POLL s628 Will you apply for a wolf hunting/trapping permit if wolves are ever finally delisted in Wisconsin? YES 47% | NO 47% | MAYBE 6% | UNDECIDED 0% | OTHER 0 % | IMPRESSIONS: 326 | RESPONSES: 17  COMMENTS: 0
INSTANT SURVEY VOTE ON - POLL s631  No Child Let Inside is currently pushing for an Environmental Literacy Bill: Good -OR- Bad for the future of the outdoor sporting community?
Prospect of Student Achievement, Green Jobs Produces Bi-partisan Bill COALITION OF 50 MILLION PEOPLE SUPPORTS ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY BILL WASHINGTON, D.C.—Bi-partisan legislation introduced in Congress today would support the surging environmental education movement, improve student achievement, and prepare students for jobs in the growing green economy. A coalition of business, education, environmental and other groups representing 50 million Americans applauded the introduction in the Senate and House of the historic No Child Left Inside Act (NCLI), a bi-partisan bill sponsored by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Senator Mark Kirk (R-Illinois), and Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD), among others, which helps states boost environmental literacy. “Passing the No Child Left Inside Act is a key step in improving the quality of our children’s education, and preparing them for the complex challenges of the future workforce,” Senator Reed said. READ MORE HERE:
You are entered into the drawing - when you leave a COMMENT - for a ... ZipVac portable vacuum sealer starter kit, complete with a rechargeable pump, a hand-operated pump and reusable, resealable storage bags.  Follow ZipVac on Twitter and subscribe to the ZipVac blog.
POLINA RAYGORODSKAYA AND IGOR BRATNIKOV Founders of GreenXC announce their three-week coast-to-coast adventure via rideshare to encourage awareness and protection of our National Parks DON KALDUNSKI Founder of American Fishing Contests talks about the great variety of fishing competitions in Wisconsin and nationwide CAPT. DAN WELSCH Proprietor of Dumper Dan’s Sportfishing Charters reports that hot Lake Michigan trout and salmon action continues off Sheboygan CAPT. ROGER LaPENTER Proprietor of Anglers All in Ashland on Lake Superior’s Chequamegon Bay says bass, pike and salmon fishing are hot right now, but no one has reported catching a winning fish in Ashland’s Bass Kickin’ on the Bay tagged fish fishing contest, so all 12 winning fish are still swimming out there. Pro-staffer DUFFY KOPF - for Dwyer Marine in Madison, Wisconsin reports on last weekend’sTake An Adult Fishingevent and says big bluegills are biting on Lake Monona, and bass are deep on Lake Mendota www.dwyermarine.com.
THE EVENTS CALENDAR HAS BEEN MOVED DANSMALLOUTDOORS.COM/EVENTS •FISHING CONTESTS: Find them ALL online @ American Fishing Contests •RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY BANQUETS & EVENTS: »ONLINE INFO: •MILFORD HILLS ACTIVITIES & EVENTS: »ONLINE INFO
Wisconsin’s “St. Croix Cougar” killed in Connecticut EAU CLAIRE – One of four different cougars confirmed to have visited Wisconsin – this one dubbed the “Twin Cities Cougar” or the “St. Croix Cougar” – was killed by a vehicle six weeks ago on a busy highway in Connecticut, wildlife officials said today. From Champlin, Minn., where it was first detected by police on Dec. 5, 2009, to the June 11 accident site near Milford, Conn., is 1,055 miles as the crow flies. This represents a new record for straight-line movement of a known cougar, said wildlife biologist Adrian Wydeven of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. “It’s one of those amazing animal stories,” Wydeven said today. “It shows the potential some of these animals have for moving across the landscape.” Read more here: FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:     • Adrian Wydeven, DNR ecologist, Park Falls, 715-762-1363     • Ed Culhane, DNR communications, Eau Claire, 715-781-1683
Please SUPPORT OUR Sponsors.  Their support brings you Dan Small Outdoors Radio Am.Fishing Contests Ashland Chamber Cedar Lake Sales Crestliner Dumper Dan's Forge Bow Great Lakes Roofing Hunters Network Hupy & Abraham Midwestern Shooters Supply Milford Hills Hunt Club Redpaw Performance  Dog Food Roger B's HuntGuide Ruffed Grouse Society WI Clean Marina Program WI Marina Association Wisconsin DNR Zip-Vac Dan Small Outdoors