The U.N. General Assembly passed a landmark international arms trafficking treaty tying weapons exports to potential human rights threats. among other things, the treaty prohibits countries from exporting conventional weapons in violation of arms embargoes, or weapons used to commit genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes or terrorism, the BBC said. It also requires countries to keep conventional weapons from entering the black market.

Iran, Syria and North Korea last week blocked an effort to approve the treaty by consensus and opponents said much of the language was too vague. Russia led a group of nations that abstained. The United States voted in favor of the measure despite pressure from the National Rifle Association, which opposed the treaty and said it would work to ensure it isn't ratified in the U.S. Senate.

However, with or without U.S. ratification, as soon as 50 countries approve the treaty it will become international law.

Interestingly, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott wrote a letter to President Obama on Tuesday saying that the state will head to court over the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty should Mr. Obama sign it and the U.S. Senate ratify it.

�The UN has concluded its negotiations on the Arms Trade Treaty,� Mr. Abbot writes. �It is now up to you to sign it � or reject it. Do not sign this treaty.�

Mr. Abbott writes that he understands the apparent purpose is to combat illegal arms trafficking around the world, but that the treaty could draw law-abiding gun owners and gun operators �into a complex web of bureaucratic red tape created by a new department at the UN devoted to overseeing the treaty.�

�As with most so-called international-law documents promulgated by the UN, the draft treaty is not written using the precise, unambiguous language required of a good legal document,� he continues. �Instead, the treaty employs sweeping rhetoric and imprecise terminology that could be used by those who seek to undermine our liberties to impose any number of restrictions on the right of law-abiding Americans to keep and bear arms.�

U.S. diplomats said much of what's in the legislation is in practice in the United States, where weapons companies are forbidden from selling to nations or groups likely to commit genocide. Human rights advocates lauded the treaty's passage as a proactive step in preventing mass violence in the future.

Diplomats have worked for nearly 10 years to reach agreement on principles to control the flow of such arms, the BBC said. Attempts to finalize the treaty last year collapsed after the United States, Russia and China, said they needed more time to consider the issues. The treaty covers an estimated $70 billion trade in tanks, armored combat vehicles, large-caliber weapons, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, missiles and launchers, small arms, light weapons and ammunition.

National

70,291,049 Background Checks for Gun Purchases

under Obama

There have been 70,291,049 background checks for gun purchases since President Obama took office, according to data released by the FBI.

In 2009, the FBI conducted 14,033,824 background checks. If we subtract the month of January (Obama did not assume office until the end of the month) we get 12,819,939.

The FBI conducted 14,409,616 background checks in 2010, 16,454,951 in

2011, and 19,592,303 in 2012.

Add to that the first three months of 2013 (2,495,440, 2,309,393 and 2,209,407, respectively) and the total number of background checks under President Obama comes to 70,291,049.

Over the same time period, the number of background checks completed under President George W. Bush was 36,090,415, or about half the number conducted under Obama.

Regional

Asian Carp Sampling Schedule

A sampling schedule for the week of April 8, 2013 is included below.

Barrier Defense Asian Carp Removal Project
Tuesday � Friday, April 9-12

Five commercial fishing boats and crews with IDNR biologists will use trammel and gill nets to remove Asian carp from the upper Illinois River and lower Des Plaines River. Most of the effort this week will take place in the Marseilles Pool near Morris Illinois, although some time will be

spent upstream in the Dresden Island Pool and downstream in the Starved Rock Pool.

Monitoring Asian Carp Population Metrics and Control Efforts

Monday-Friday, April 8-12

One boat and crew from SIUC downloading tracking information from VR2 receivers along the Illinois River from Meredosia to Starved Rock Lock and Dam and gathering discharge data with an acoustic Doppler current profiler.

Report: Asian Carp May Have Reached Great Lakes

Study posted in Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences

CHICAGO (AP)--At least some Asian carp probably have found their way into the Great Lakes, but there's still time to stop the dreaded invaders from becoming established and unraveling food chains that support a $7 billion fishing industry and sensitive ecosystems, according to a scientific report released Thursday.

Written by experts who pioneered use of genetic data to search for the aggressive fish, the paper disagrees with government scientists who say many of the positive Asian carp DNA hits recorded in or near the lakes in recent years could have come from other sources, such as excrement from birds that fed on carp in distant rivers.

"The most plausible explanation is still that there are some carp out there," Christopher Jerde of the University of Notre Dame, the lead author, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "We can be cautiously optimistic ... that we're not at the point where they'll start reproducing, spreading further and doing serious damage."

The paper summarizes findings by Jerde and other scientists from Notre Dame, The Nature Conservancy and Central Michigan University during two years of searching the Great Lakes basin for Asian carp. The fish have migrated northward in the Mississippi River and many tributaries since escaping from Deep South ponds in the 1970s. Scientists fear they will out-compete prized sport and commercial species.

Of particular concern are silver and bighead carp, which gorge on plankton � microscopic plants and animals that virtually all fish eat at some point. The carp reproduce prolifically, and the biggest can reach 100 pounds.

Between September 2009 and October 2011, Jerde and his colleagues collected more than 2,800 water samples from parts of the Great Lakes and tributary rivers. The samples were poured through microfiber filters to extract DNA, which fish shed in their excrement, scales and body slime. It's known as environmental DNA, or "eDNA."

Laboratory analysis turned up 58 positive hits for bighead or silver carp in the Chicago Area Waterway System � a network of rivers and canals linked directly to Lake Michigan � and six in western Lake Erie. Some of the Chicago DNA was found in Lake Calumet, where a live bighead carp was caught in 2010.

"I would say there's at least some evidence for Asian carp being present in southern Lake Michigan," Jerde said. "The question is how many."

More recently, sampling by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other federal agencies also yielded positive results in the Chicago waterways.

But while the government team acknowledges the presence of Asian carp genetic fingerprints, it disagrees that they necessarily signal the presence of live fish.

The issue is significant because it could influence the debate over whether to seal off Lake Michigan from the Chicago waterways, a mammoth engineering task that would cost billions of dollars and take years to complete. Five states sought that step in a lawsuit dismissed by a federal judge last December. Under pressure from Congress, the Army Corps of Engineers has pledged to offer options for preventing species migrations between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River watershed later this year.

The Army Corps contends an electric barrier in a canal 37 miles from Chicago is preventing the carp from getting through, even though their DNA has turned up repeatedly on the other side. In a February report, federal agencies said the genetic material could have been transported by bird feces, fish sampling gear, barges and storm sewers.

But the Jerde team's paper, published online April 4 by the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, argues that the likeliest explanation remains the presence of live Asian carp. It's probably no coincidence that many of the positive samples have come from Chicago's Lake Calumet and western Lake Erie, where three bigheads were snagged in 1995 and 2000, the paper says.

It says the scientists found no signs of the carp in Chicago locations where they should have been abundant, such as sewer outfalls, if the alternative explanations were accurate.

The secondary alternatives are even less plausible for Lake Erie, the paper says. The DNA that was found there was more than 100 miles from waterways infested with Asian carp. So if birds were the source, it seemingly would mean they feasted on carp, flew a long distance and excreted feces within a few hours of when the researchers collected water samples.

"You're requiring all kinds of random events to happen simultaneously," said Lindsay Chadderton of The Nature Conservancy, who contributed to the paper. "It's possible, but highly unlikely."

Kelly Baerwaldt, a fisheries biologist and Asian carp program manager for the Army Corps who supports the alternative-source theory, said the new report didn't change her mind. Fish-gobbling birds such as cormorants often range over hundreds of miles, she said. And if live carp are the only source of the DNA in Chicago, why has just one been found beyond the electric barrier? (Jerde says they're notoriously hard to catch.)

"Sure, it could be live fish and it also could be these other things, because we tested them and looked at the evidence," Baerwaldt said.

The Army Corps, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey continue to study the issue and hope within a couple of years to refine methods of determining the likely source of a particular DNA sample, she said. "The bottom line is there's just a lot we don't know about eDNA," she said

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Study: www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full/10.1139/cjfas-2012-0478

General

Ammo Manufacturers Scramble to Keep Up with Demand

Reassure Eager Customers

The run on ammunition has manufacturers scrambling to accommodate demand and reassure customers, as many new and seasoned gun owners stock up over fears of new firearms regulations at both the state and federal levels.

Hornady, an ammunition manufacturer located in Grand Island, Nebraska, offers answers to concerned customers on the FAQ page of their website:

Q: Have you stopped production, or has the government forced you to stop?

A: Not at all.

Q: Since we can't find your product you must be selling it all to the government.

A: Nope, less than 5% of our sales are to government entities.

Q: Why can't you make more, and ramp up production? Turn on all the machines?

A: We've been steadily growing our production for a long time, especially the last five years. We've added presses, lathes, CNC equipment, people and space. Many popular items are produced 24 hours a day. Several hundred Hornady employees work overtime every week to produce as much as safely possible. If there is any question about that - please take a tour of the factory. You'll be amazed at what you see.

The page also states:

"We are producing as much as we can; much more than last year, which was a lot more than the year before, etc. No one wants to ship more

during this time than we do. "We appreciate everyone's understanding

and patience. We don't know when the situation will improve, so please bear with us a little longer. And remember, when it comes to Hornady Manufacturing, if you don't hear it from us, please don't believe it."

Other ammo manufacturers are saying virtually the same thing. Jeff Hoffman, president of Black Hills Ammunition told GunsandAmmo:

"We have a little bit of the hunting calibers on hand, like .270, but everything else is gone. It's only skipping once on its way out the door."

Keith Enlow, senior vice president and ammunition manager at Freedom Group, said: "Even though we're in the middle of panic buying, we don't see the demand for ammunition going away any time soon."

And, according to Guns&Ammo, Remington's official statement on ammo production is: "Remington is at full capacity at this time in a majority of categories of ammunition. We are continuing to look at how to increase capacity and supply our ammunition products to the various channels of distribution/sales that we support."

The major online ammunition distributors mirror the messages of the manufacturers.

LuckyGunner, located in Knoxville Tenn provides this message to its customers:" Our team has been working nights and weekends to ensure that the service we deliver to you is not compromised by the current heightened demand for ammunition." "Our team is working very hard to secure more product for you and we will. When its available to be sold, you will see it on our site."

For Your Health

Preventing Tick Invasions

Five steps to reduce risk of picking up tick diseases

Probably the best way to reduce the risk of contracting tick-borne diseases is to avoid tick-infested habitat in the first place; however that is often not a practical option for many sportman's activities. Hunters, hikers and mushroom picker are just a few of the activities at risk for picing up one of those nasty critters.

Here are five simple steps to reduce the risk of picking up tick hitchhikers and their diseases

Tip #1: Since most ticks crawl upward onto a host, tuck your pantlegs into your boots and shirts into your pants. For extra protection, tape such clothing junctures with duct tape, then twist the tape so the sticky side is out and make one more wrap.

Tip #2: Wear light-colored clothing when possible. This makes it easier to see ticks crawling around before they find their way to your skin.

Tip #3: Look for a repellent that contains 0.5 percent or more of permethrin. This works as a great tick repellent and can usually be used on clothing. In fact, some products containing permethrin can remain bonded with clothing fibers even through laundering.

Tip #4: When you return from the outdoors, inspect all your clothing before going inside. Once inside, do a thorough whole-body inspection and wash your clothing as soon as possible.

Tip #5: Don't forget to protect man's best friend. Commercially available dog dips containing amitrax or permethrin can provide canines with tick protection for two to three weeks per treatment. For the very best tick prevention for canines, contact your local veterinarian and inquire about prescribed treatment options, most of which can now last for a month or more.

If a tick is found, the Center for Disease Control recommends the tick be

removed as soon as possible and the affected area is disinfected immediately following the removal.

The best method to remove a tick according to the CDC is to grasp the tick close to the skin with fine-tipped tweezers, placing the tweezers close to and parallel to the skin so that you grasp the base of the tick's mouthparts rather than its body. Pull gently but firmly, straight away from the skin until the tick comes free. Grasp the tick from its back to its belly, instead of from side to side - this helps to prevent the tick's mouthparts from remaining imbedded in the skin. The sooner a tick is removed, the less chance it will transmit a disease to its host.

After a tick bite, Lyme disease may progress several weeks without signs of illness, making diagnosis difficult. Years of pain and physical and mental impairment can result if untreated. The other three diseases often show signs within two to five days of a tick bite. They may progress so rapidly that a day or two of delay in diagnosis and treatment may result in death.

If signs of severe or persistent headaches, fever, soreness or stiffness in muscles and joints, appetite loss, fatigue, or a skin rash occur within three weeks after a tick bite, immediately contact your doctor. Early diagnosis and treatment is critical.

A Lyme disease vaccine is no longer available. The vaccine manufacturer discontinued production in 2002, citing insufficient consumer demand. Protection provided by this vaccine diminishes over time. Therefore, if you received the Lyme disease vaccine before 2002, you are probably no longer protected against Lyme disease

For more information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/index.html.

Studies link low Vitamin D to Cardiovascular Disease

studies appear to show that Vitamin D is the missing link in patients with cardiovascular disease. Colleagues of the Hull York Medical School in England recently conducted a remarkable study of two statins, atorvastatin (Lipitor) and simvastatin

The study done by those researchers of the two most commonly prescribed statin drugs: Lipitor (atorvastatin) and Zocor (simvastatin) show both lower cholesterol equally and both are used to prevent cardiovascular disease. But the study also showed that cardiovascular events are lower in patients on Lipitor than in patients on Zocor. The possible reason for these results is not because Lipitor reduces oxidative stress and

inflammation better than Zocor; they both do that equally well. But Lipitor raises Vitamin D levels more than Zocor does.

The study appears to show that increasing vitamin D levels may help reduce cardiovascular stress. Adequate levels of vitamin D has been proven to help reduce the instance and severity of colds and the flu and to influence dozens of other conditions, including: cancer, heart disease, hypertension, obesity, diabetes types I and II, aging signs, osteoporosis, seizures, Alzheimer�s disease, dementia, schizophrenia, inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, infertility, depression and asthma.

Lake Erie

2013 Walleye and Yellow Perch catch levels recommended for Lake Erie

Recommended allowable walleye and yellow perch harvest to remain relatively stable in 2013

NIAGARA FALLS, NY � Fishery managers from Michigan, New York, Ohio, Ontario, and Pennsylvania, meeting as the Lake Erie Committee, recommended a 2013 total allowable catch (TAC) of 3.356 million walleye and 12.237 million pounds of yellow perch (see footnote). These recommended harvest levels represent a decrease in allowable walleye and yellow perch harvest for 2013 and reflect that fish hatches in recent years have been weak. These TAC recommendations were produced after extensive lakewide biological assessments, analysis, discussions, and consultations with stakeholders. The primary mechanism to discuss walleye and yellow perch management in Lake Erie is called the Lake Erie Percid Management Advisory Group, or LEPMAG. Through this process, stakeholder input directly informs the development of harvest strategies. This structured stakeholder engagement reflects the committee�s interest in involving the fishing community in discussions related to management of the lake�s walleye and yellow perch fisheries.

The Lake Erie Committee recommends establishing TACs at levels consistent with Lake Erie�s biological conditions while also providing commercial and recreational fishers with a level of stability, as informed through LEPMAG discussions. However, as reported in previous years, the committee remains concerned about changing environmental conditions in Lake Erie and the potential for future production, particularly in western Lake Erie.

WALLEYE

Using an interim harvest policy developed through the LEPMAG process, the Lake Erie Committee recommended a 2013 walleye TAC of 3.356 million fish, compared to the TAC of 3.487 million fish in 2012. In 2013 it is anticipated that the 2010 year class will be the major contributor to the fishery, along with moderate contributions from other year classes including the exceptional 2003 cohort. Due to a series of poor year classes, the population in 2014 is expected to decline, potentially leading to lower TACs in future years as the fish from the strong year classes age and the total size of the walleye stock decreases. The decreased TAC recommendation for 2013 reflects the committee�s goal to manage the lakewide fish stocks sustainably, recognizing stakeholder input.

The TAC is recommended by the Lake Erie Committee and is allocated to Ohio, Michigan and Ontario by an area-based sharing formula of walleye habitat within each jurisdiction in the western and central basins of the lake. Under a 2013 TAC of 3.356 million fish, Ohio will be entitled to 1.715 million fish, Ontario 1.445 million fish, and Michigan 0.196 million fish. The majority of harvest comes from the west end of Lake Erie and, as such, the walleye fisheries of eastern Lake Erie remain outside the quota management area. Harvest limits in that area are established separately by Ontario, Pennsylvania, and New York.

The recommended TAC is based on updated walleye abundance estimates (incorporating suggestions from LEPMAG) from the Walleye Task Group, comprising scientists and field biologists from Ontario and the Great Lakes states who work together to share data and reach consensus on biological conditions. Senior fishery managers consider the biological condition and socioeconomic factors in determining a TAC recommendation. Each jurisdiction is responsible for implementing the TAC.

YELLOW PERCH

The Lake Erie Committee recommended a 2013 binational TAC of 12.237 million pounds of yellow perch, a 10% decrease from last year�s allocation of 13.637 million pounds. The Yellow Perch Task Group, made up of biologists from all jurisdictions on the lake, estimated yellow perch abundances in Lake Erie and reported to the Lake Erie Committee. As the Lake Erie Committee deliberated on the yellow perch TAC, it considered that harvestable stocks are lower than last year; the TAC for 2013 reflects the committee�s consideration of the importance of relative stability of harvest.

The five jurisdictions on the lake divide Lake Erie�s allocation of yellow perch based on formulas by management unit. Under the 2013 TAC recommendation, Ontario will receive 5.969 million pounds, Ohio 4.896 million pounds, Michigan 0.164 million pounds, New York 0.259 million pounds, and Pennsylvania 0.949 million pounds.

The Lake Erie Percid Management Advisory Group (LEPMAG)

The LEPMAG, first convened by the Lake Erie Committee in 2010, is a new method to enhance stakeholder involvement in the Lake Erie walleye and yellow perch decision-making process. The primary purpose of LEPMAG is for fishery managers and stakeholders to work together to update the harvest policies for walleye and yellow perch. This group consists of stakeholders from all jurisdictions surrounding Lake Erie, Lake Erie managers, and agency staff. LEPMAG is facilitated by Michigan State University�s Quantitative Fisheries Center.

From November, 2010 through February, 2012, LEPMAG members were involved in a series of five facilitated workshops that defined common fisheries objectives for the Lake Erie walleye population and described the current assessment programs, data sources, stock assessment model, and Lake Erie Committee harvest policy. During the final workshop of the first round of LEPMAG meetings in February 2012, a Technical Review Panel, comprised of modeling and fisheries management experts, reviewed the statistical catch at age stock assessment model and made recommendations for the LEPMAG to consider with respect to potential improvements within the stock assessment model. The Quantitative Fishers Center incorporated these recommendations into a formal walleye management strategy evaluation.

Indiana

No changes in Indiana muskie fishing rules

Now that Michigan has restricted anglers to keeping one muskie per year and has implemented a harvest tag system, will Indiana muskie anglers face a similar change?

Not likely-at least for now.

Current rules allow Indiana-licensed anglers to take one muskie per day in Indiana. There are no limits in Indiana on the number of muskies an Indiana-licensed angler can take per year. The only tags required in Indiana for harvest pertain to deer and turkey hunting-not fishing.

Michigan's muskie tag is free. Any angler who catches a muskie must release the fish if that person does not possess a harvest tag.

"We understand why Michigan is cutting muskie harvest and requiring a muskie tag," said Jed Pearson, an Indiana DNR fisheries biologist. "They are sending a message that muskies are scarce and the tags provide biologists a good way to track long-term trends in harvest."
Pearson, however, does not think muskie fishing in Indiana is being affected by anglers harvesting the fish. "Based on surveys conducted at several Indiana lakes, few anglers keep muskies," Pearson said. "They are at the top of the list for catch-and-release fishing."

Michigan also imposes a much higher size limit on muskies than

Indiana. A muskie must be 36 inches or larger to be taken in Indiana, whereas muskies taken in southern Michigan must be at least 42 inches. At some Michigan waters, muskies must be 50 inches long.

"At Lake Webster, our premier muskie lake, male muskies do not grow much after they reach 36 inches long," said Pearson. "Female muskies grow faster but few grow beyond 44 inches. It's very rare to see a 50-incher."

Increasing Indiana's size limit, therefore, would not have much of an impact on muskie size because so few muskies are taken at any size.

Michigan also differs from Indiana on when anglers can fish for muskies. Michigan imposes a closed season from March 16 until the last Saturday of April on waters in the Lower Peninsula.

Indiana has no closed season on muskies. Anglers can fish for them year-round. "Closed seasons are often used to protect spawning fish. Our muskie program depends entirely on stocking, so a closed season in Indiana is not needed," Pearson said.

Fore more info: Name: Jed Pearson, (260) 244-6805 Email: [email protected]

Michigan

DNR hosts fishing regulation meetings April 9 & 11

In Escanaba and Iron Mountain

The Michigan DNR will host two public meetings in April to discuss local fishing regulations in the Northern Lake Michigan Management Unit.

The meetings will be held:

� Tuesday, April 9, 7-9 p.m. (EDT) at the Bay College Heirman Center, 2001 N. Lincoln Road in Escanaba

� Thursday, April 11, 6-8 p.m. (CDT) at Bay College West, 2801 N. U.S. 2 in Iron Mountain

Several local regulation proposals will be discussed at the meeting, including the following:
� Removal of trout regulations on lakes that are no longer managed for

trout or accessible to the public (North Shoe Lake, Alger County; Bass Lake, Dickinson County; Camp Lake, Iron County; and Little Brocky and Log lakes, Marquette County).

� Northern pike regulations for additional waters that may be suited for either the new 24-inch to 34-inch protected-slot-limit or where up to five northern pike may be taken, with only one greater than 24-inches.

In addition, an overview of regulation changes for the 2013 fishing season will be presented, including the following:
� Northern pike size and bag limits.
� Muskellunge one fish per season harvest limit.
� Dip netting season changes.

For more information, contact Jessica Mistak at [email protected] or 906-786-2351, extension 127

2013 Archery in the Schools state tournament winners

The Michigan DNR announced the winners of Michigan�s seventh annual State Virtual Archery Tournament. More than 700 student archers from 29 schools participating in the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) competed in the recent tournament.

Team awards will be presented as follows:

High School Division

1^st place - Hartland High School

2^nd place - Gaylord St. Mary Cathedral

3^rd place - Christian Homeschoolers of Northern Michigan

Middle School Division

1^st place - Hartland Middle School

2^nd place - Hartland Middle School

3^rd place - Christian Homeschoolers of Northern Michigan

Elementary School Division

1^st place - Hartland Elementary School

2^nd place - Portage Central Elementary School

3^rd place - St. Francis Xavier School (Petoskey)

The 2013 overall male state champion is Chad Cooper, 12^th-grader at

Hartland High School, shooting 295 out of a possible 300 score. The 2013 overall female state champion is Caylee Lawnichak, 11^th-grader at Gaylord St. Mary Cathedral, shooting 292 out of a possible 300 score.

The DNR provides trophies and medals for top-ranking teams and individual winners. First-place teams, and an additional six qualifying teams and the top five male and female archers in each age division, received an invitation to participate in the upcoming 2013 NASP National Tournament, May 10-11 in Louisville, Ky.

�The state tournament is the culminating event for students and coaches participating in NASP,� said Kathy Garland, NASP coordinator for the DNR. "To date over 540 schools in Michigan participate in the program.� The DNR continues to offer free archery instructor certification for teachers, and equipment grants remain available for qualifying schools.

For a complete list of tournament results, visit the tournament website at http://nasptournaments.org. For more information on Michigan's Archery in the Schools Program, visit www.michigan.gov/archery or contact Kathy Garland at 517-241-9477 or [email protected].

MI to stock Atlantic salmon in Lake Huron
Spring plants to include tributaries
The Michigan DNR announced plans to release approximately 100,000 Atlantic salmon into Lake Huron and two of its tributary streams this spring. Yearling Atlantic salmon will be stocked in the St. Marys, Au Sable and Thunder Bay Rivers and in Lexington Harbor in southern Lake Huron in the coming days.

The DNR�s Fisheries Division originally experimented with rearing and stocking Atlantic salmon from 1972 to 1982. These stockings resulted in only modest returns, and the program was essentially inactive until 1986. That year, Lake Superior State University (LSSU) began rearing and stocking Atlantic salmon into the St. Marys River under a memorandum of agreement with the DNR. The fish are reared at the LSSU aquaculture laboratory, located directly on the St. Marys River. The laboratory now serves as the sole source of Atlantic salmon eggs in Michigan and continues to offer recreational fishing opportunities on Lake Huron while providing LSSU students with educational experiences in fisheries research, culture and management.

In 2010, the DNR began experimental rearing of Atlantic salmon at its Platte River State Fish Hatchery near Beulah. After two years of working through disease problems and investing in equipment to control disease outbreaks, the production of Atlantic salmon yearlings in 2013 has been exceptional.

�This year�s production of Atlantic salmon yearlings has gone according to plan, and we�re pleased to report the fish are healthy and disease-free,� said Ed Eisch, Northern Lower Peninsula Area Hatchery manager. �Fish production personnel have worked hard to raise these fish from eggs to healthy yearlings. The fish are starting to smolt and are ready to be stocked into a lake environment.�

According to Todd Grischke, Lake Huron Basin coordinator, the stocking of these fish in Lake Huron represents the culmination of many years of planning and cooperation.

�Fisheries Division managers have been working with constituent organizations over the past 18 months to identify appropriate stocking locations for Atlantic salmon,� said Grischke. �Many sites were proposed and evaluated according to things such as stream temperatures, public access and the ability for the DNR to evaluate returning adults. We also focused on those locations that would optimize the chances of success and provide stream, pier and open water fishing opportunities.�

Atlantic salmon are one of several species of salmonids stocked in the Great Lakes, and are caught by anglers on both Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. For more info, go to: Atlantic salmon section on the Michigan Fish and How to Catch Them section of the DNR website.

Minnesota

Test results show no DNA evidence of Asian carp

But scientists urge continued action
New analyses for Asian carp DNA in water samples from the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers showed little evidence of bighead and silver carp, researchers announced in a report released last week.

The joint effort by scientists from the new Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center at the U of Minnesota, USGS and the Minnesota DNR also concludes that while recent captures by commercial fisheries show these invasive fish are present in Minnesota, their numbers are likely still relatively low.

Studies in 2011 using this technique, which detects DNA fragments released to the environment (eDNA), showed positive results for silver carp eDNA in up to half of the samples collected from the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers. The new report documents what is considered to be the most rigorous study of Asian carp eDNA in Minnesota waters to date. It used a large number of experimental controls and techniques recently developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for use in the Illinois River and Great Lakes that include DNA sequencing as a final verification step.

According to the researchers, while the new study consistently detected silver carp eDNA in Iowa where the fish are abundant, it detected no silver carp eDNA in the sampling areas just above and below St. Croix Falls in

the St. Croix River or in the sampling areas above and below the Coon
Rapids Dam or below Lock and Dam No. 1 in the Mississippi River. In contrast, no bighead carp eDNA was detected at any location, including in Iowa where this species is known to be present.

�The differences between the 2011 and 2012 eDNA testing results may be partly attributable to the evolving technology,� noted Peter Sorensen, MAISRC director, and leader of the research team. �As the bighead results show, this particular technique needs to be refined for detecting this species in open waters.� Sorensen believes that despite the lack of eDNA evidence reported in this study, there are very good reasons to believe these fish are routinely entering Minnesota waters from the south and could eventually breed here.

�These results support the conclusion that bighead and silver carp have not yet become established in Minnesota,� said Steve Hirsch, director of the DNR�s Ecological and Waters Division, adding that �the threat of Asian carp is nevertheless an urgent issue for the state, requiring immediate action.�

The research study was coordinated by the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center at the University of Minnesota, and was funded by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. The complete report is online at http://www.maisrc.umn.edu/

Lessons learned from the 2012 ice fishing season
By Maj. Roger Tietz, Minnesota DNR Enforcement Division

The 2012 ice fishing season is drawing to a close. For those of you who spend time on the ice, there are a few things we can learn from this year�s ice fishing season. These are important lessons, life�s moments that will someday be the �I remember back during the winter of 2012� that will be ever etched in our minds. So, from an avid ice fisherman and a conservation officer for more than 30 years, here are �Lessons learned from the 2012 ice fishing season.�

Putting a fish house on the lake requires dedication
In Minnesota we enjoy the opportunity to put an ice fishing or spearing shelter on the lake. The law allows us to leave it on the lake unattended. To be clear, I�m not focusing on portable ice fishing tents or shelters that an angler sets up and takes home with them.

I�m focused on the ones that anglers put out and leave on the lake overnight. In most cases, these are the houses that are constructed with building materials that are pulled out on a lake and are very comfortable to fish from. If you have one of these, the 2012 season reinforced the point, that as a responsible ice angler you have to check your shelter regularly.

This winter we experienced exceptional early ice season conditions. As the winter progressed abundant snowfall quickly changed the ice fishing landscape. Travel conditions on the lake, as well as the weight of snow on the ice, created serious problems. A good lesson is that you need to be checking your fish house daily and at a minimum weekly to stay on top of ice and snow conditions around your house to avoid problems. It�s the responsible thing to do.

Ice anglers need to watch the weather
This sounds simple, but cannot be overstated. If you�re going to make the investment and take time to put a fish house on a lake, you have to keep up on the weather reports; there is very little margin for error. As this winter taught us, snowfalls can be unpredictable and if the lake you�re on gets 8 to 10 inches of snow things can change rapidly. My advice is if you learn of a 3+ inch snowstorm headed your way, take immediate steps to quickly get your house off the lake or at least near shore. The lesson learned is stay on top of the weather. Winter storms need to be respected.

Heavy snow leads to flooding and slush
As ice fishermen we know that a little snow is welcome. It helps us to bank our houses and soften the heating bill but too much snow is challenging. That�s why after a recent snowfall, you need to check your fish house. Snow can be heavy. As that snow sits on the ice, it forces the ice down and the water through ice or open ice fishing holes.

This is a common cause of fish house flooding. If you have a fish house on the lake, you have to respect snow and check your fish house. Wet snow/slush can also make travel to your fish house impossible. That�s why I earlier recommended pulling your house to shore when you hear of a weather report calling for significant snowfall. One day you can be getting around just fine, but with substantial snowfall travel can treacherous if not impossible. The lesson to be learned is that you need

to be respectful of wet heavy snow and slush. The odds are in nature�s favor and you won�t beat them.

It�s okay to pull your fish house off early/don�t wait until the deadline
This one is based on common sense and can�t be overstated. As an ice fishermen if you�re not using your house, take it off the lake or at least move it toward the shoreline. During my travels, it amazes me how many people will take the time and effort to put a house out, use it a couple of times and then leave it until the end of the season. This is a recipe for disaster.

This past winter I got calls from anglers who had houses out and explained that they couldn�t get them off the lake before the fish house deadline. They said the lake was covered in snow and travel was impossible. In listening to their problems, I couldn�t help but ask, �When was the last time you checked on it?� In most cases, I learn they haven�t been to it for a long time. The lesson is to take your house off the lake if you don�t intend on using it. Don�t wait until the deadline.

The fish house deadline is the deadline
I will be the first to admit this sounds hard and cruel, but to be honest, it�s an ice fishing reality. As an ice fisherman you have to respect the deadline. It�s the law. As we know, the deadline is not a secret and needs to be respected. It�s fair and allows us to enjoy a lengthy ice fishing season.

If you put a fish house on the lake and don�t remove it before the deadline, expect to be issued a citation. Conservation officers are not authorized to allow you to violate the law, so when you call looking for an extension due to some unforeseen circumstance in getting your fish house off the lake, don�t be surprised when they tell you, �You need to get your house off the lake;� there are no exceptions. This is probably the most important lesson from the 2012 season.

Public accesses are not public storage lots
Finally, when you get your fish house off the lake, finish the job. It�s illegal to leave a fish house on a public access. As a responsible angler you need to do the right thing and take it with you. Conservation officers will issue citations to any fish house owner that leaves their fish house on a public access.

Most of us have watched the movie �Grumpy Old Men� and recognize the film makers desire to capture the essence of Minnesota ice fishing and as we know it. It�s a unique winter sport and a great winter past time. It provides entertainment for Minnesotans and is engrained as a part of our winter heritage and culture. I encourage anyone that takes time to put a fish house on Minnesota waters to take the decision to heart and recognize the essential obligations that go with this activity. In closing, I will share the advice I got from a senior conservation officer many years ago. The final lesson is this: If you have time to build a fish house, and if you have time to fish in it, you also have to make time to check on it, and when the season is over, make time to get your fish house off the lake.

Gander Mtn. Firearms coming to Rogers, MN

Outdoors retailer adds state�s first Firearms Super Center

ST. PAUL, MN, April 5, 2013 --- Spring is an exciting time in Minnesota and outdoor enthusiasts in the Land of 10,000 Lakes will soon have a new place to shop for the best assortment of firearms and ammunition. Minnesota�s own Gander Mountain announced the 12th store in Minnesota, and the state�s first dedicated Gander Mtn. Firearms Super Center, will open in Rogers, MN, in the late April.

Remodeling and construction activity is underway on an existing 30,000-sq ft facility at 20870 Rogers Drive, near the intersection of I-94 and State Highway 101. The Gander Mtn. Firearms Super Center is a new concept which will provide a specialty retail outlet focused specifically on fulfilling

the needs of firearms enthusiasts, featuring thousands of new and used firearms of all kinds, and the industry�s best selection of firearms accessories, specialty apparel, ammunition and security.

In the past year, new Gander Mountain stores have opened in Valdosta, GA, Morrisville, NC, Lafayette, IN, Opelika, AL, Florence, AL, and Winston-Salem, NC, with new stores opening in Tuscaloosa, AL, Gastonia, NC and Monroe, NC

Interested in careers with Gander Mountain? Explore opportunities and submit an application at www.GanderMountain.com/careers. www.GanderMountain.com or 800-282-5993

Pennsylvania

PA sets Perch and Walleye Limits for Lake Erie

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission announced the 2013 creel limit for Lake Erie yellow perch will remain at 30 per day and the creel limit for walleye will stay at six per day.

"This year's assessment showed that both yellow perch and walleye populations remain stable," said Chuck Murray, the PFBC's Lake Erie biologist. "Based on this, the creel limits are being held at the 2012 limits." The PFBC adopted a new regsulation last year which established adaptive creel limits for walleye and yellow perch based on the annual

quotas established by the Lake Erie Committee, which consists of fisheries managers from Pa., Ohio, N.Y., Mich., and Ontario, Canada.

Adaptive fishing regulations are based on the most recent fishery assessment results and are better aligned with the current status of the yellow perch and walleye stocks,� Murray added. �This regulatory flexibility gave fisheries managers the ability to change daily harvest limits prior to the onset of the summer boat fishing season on Lake Erie.�

The PFBC sets daily creel limits for these species by April 15 each year.

PA Trout Season opens April 13

Anglers from across the state are gearing up to fish their favorite spots at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, which marks the traditional statewide opening day of trout season. Since mid-February, the Pennsylvania Fish

and Boat Commission (PFBC) has been busy replenishing waterways with a fresh supply of brook, brown and rainbow trout. And with more than 3 million adult trout stocked in lakes and creeks, anglers will have plenty of active targets.

Other Breaking News Items

(Click on title or URL to read full article)

Local man's salmon research used by DNR to stock Mich. lakes
Research being done by a Cadillac native and Michigan State University graduate student is changing the way Chinook salmon are stocked in Michigan waters.

Report: Asian carp may have reached Great Lakes
At least some Asian carp probably have found their way into the Great Lakes, but there's still time to stop the dreaded invaders from becoming established, according to a scientific report released Thursday.

Stockton, CA Was Murdered

So what happened to this place so favored by geology, geography and climate? On April 1, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Klein allowed Stockton to move forward into Chapter 9 bankruptcy. The city's biggest bill is for the pensions of government employees � which are run by a state agency called the California Public Employee Retirement System

Up-and-down weather fatal to Lake Erie fish
The large number of fish found along Ashtabula County�s Lake Erie shore most likely succumbed to the area�s fluctuating temperatures, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources� Division of Wildlife.

Connecticut reaches deal on toughy gun laws after Newtown massacre

Connecticut lawmakers reached a deal on imposing some of the toughest gun laws in the country, including a ban on new high-capacity ammunition magazines, including new registration requirements for existing magazines that carry 10 or more bullets, something of a disappointment for some family members of Newtown victims who wanted an outright ban on the possession of all high-capacity magazines and traveled to the state Capitol on Monday to ask lawmakers for it.

Defense Department classifies Catholics, evangelicals as extremists

The Defense Dept came under fire last week for a U.S. Army Reserve presentation that classified Catholics and Evangelical Protestants as �extremist� religious groups alongside al Qaeda and the Ku Klux Klan. While outfits such as al Qaeda and the KKK are explicitly violent, the presentation also lists Catholicism and evangelical Protestantism as extremist groups.

Advocate promises �banquet� for sheriffs challenging fed gun push

Larry Pratt, executive director of Gun Owners of America welcomed the idea of a local sheriff defying federal agents who try to come in and enforce new gun controls, saying that "we would immediately fly out and have a banquet in his honor." "There's a misconception in our time that the court somehow is the arbiter of what is constitutional. That's not true,"

The opinions expressed here are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the GLSFC, its officers or staff.

Reproduction of any material by paid-up members of the GLSFC is encouraged but appropriate credit must be given.

Reproduction by others without written permission is prohibited.

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