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Week of July 5, 2010 |
| Fishing beyond the Great Lakes |
| Misc New Fishing-Boating Products |
| Hunting & Shooting Products/Issues |
| National |
| Regional |
| Illinois |
| Indiana |
| Michigan |
| New York |
| Ohio |
| Wisconsin |
| Other Breaking News Items |
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Fishing beyond the Great Lakes
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Data shows Gulf disaster�s brutal financial Impact on Recreational Fishing Congressional action essential if industry to survive in the Gulf of Mexico Alexandria, VA � July 1, 2010 � Businesses related to and dependent upon recreational fishing continue to suffer the brutal financial consequences of the Gulf Oil spill as recreational anglers keep their lines out of the Gulf of Mexico. The latest survey in a series commissioned by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) indicates that 78 percent of the businesses questioned stated that their sales were down in the first half of June 2010 compared to the same period last year. The average business downturn is 56 percent. Seventy-six percent of the businesses surveyed said they would not survive without financial assistance.
In Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama every business surveyed said business was down for the first half of June. �A business cannot survive these levels of sustained losses,� said Scott Frnka, Cabela�s vice president for Merchandising. �Congress and the administration need to act swiftly to implement a disaster relief payment process that is fast and efficient.�
�The businesses that support their families by servicing the |
$41 billion recreational fishing industry in the gulf, have their futures threatened due to no fault of their own,� said Pure Fishing�s President and CEO John Doerr. �It is critical that funds get distributed to these individuals quickly and it is imperative that the payments are fair and cover not only their lost profits but their fixed operating costs as well.�
On May 27, the Senate approved its 2010 Supplemental Appropriations bill which included $15 million for fishery-dependent businesses harmed by the BP Deepwater Horizon oil leak. ASA has sent a letter urging the House of Representatives to follow suit and ensure that relief funds for recreational fishing-dependent businesses are included in its 2010 Supplemental Appropriations bill.
�The sportfishing industry urges Congress and the Administration to do everything possible to assure expeditious claims processing for BP funds as well as any Congressionally-appropriated moneys,� said ASA Vice President Gordon Robertson. �Jobs, economic health and a generations-long way of life are at stake. The public can do their part as well by taking that fishing trip to the Gulf. After all, two-thirds of the Gulf remains open for business.�
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Misc New Fishing-Boating Products
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Marcum underwater camera creates 'nervous fish syndrome' New LCD VS625SD introduces numerous optical breakthroughs Minneapolis, MN � More than a decade ago, many of the country�s top touring bass and walleye pros began quietly stowing a new fish-finding device in their boats. For these renaissance competitors, the underwater camera became their secret prefishing tool�the only electronic device capable of finding and positively identifying their target species, as well as verifying cover and the big tournament winning fish hiding there.
Today, a new leader in underwater video cameras has emerged. At MarCum Technologies, genius meets passion, and the outcome is innovative products built in the USA. New for 2010-11 is MarCum�s VS625SD. On ice or in your boat, it�s easily the most complete underwater camera system ever made. The proof lies above and below the surface . . .
Innovation #1 � New advanced Solar-Intelligent� LCD Technology yields incredible screen detail, even when viewed in direct sunlight. The screen is 3 times brighter than previous technology and an intelligently engineered 6" waterproof Flat Panel LCD broadcasts the brightest, clearest underwater pictures possible. |
Innovation #2 � The VS625SD features another MarCum first�a Dual Switchable Color/B&W LCD display. For maximizing underwater detail in clear and shallow conditions, select Color Mode. In deep, dark water where color fades naturally, switch to high-contrast B&W Mode.
Innovation #3 � All new high-resolution SONY� Super HAD II CCD optics yields the sharpest colors and the most vivid screen detail available. An advanced, larger image sensor efficiently gathers light and produces a super-high resolution image in either Color or Black & White.
Innovation #4 � New on-screen displays of camera depth, water temperature, camera direction, and battery status enrich the viewing experience allow you to track moving schools of fish, as well as pinpoint precise depths of fish and cover. Even locate the level of temperature breaks, including the hot fish zone known as the thermocline. Plus, this system is calibrated for use in either fresh or salt water, and, the units of measurement can be changed from standard to metric.
For more info check out the MarCum web site.
888-778-1208 [email protected]
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Hunting & Shooting Products/Issues
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Browning Introduces New Tactical Hunter Flashlights
The new Browning
Tactical Hunter Flashpoint is the most
Function.
The new Tactical Hunter Flashpoint Flashlights feature all-aluminum construction and O-ring sealed for water-resistance. Supplied with a lock-out switch and Deep Pocket
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carry clip the Flashpoints are 5.6" in length, brightness is 175 lumens and effective distance is 150 meters.
Available in black or Mossy Oak New Break-Up with Dura-Touch Armor Coating
Also, beginning in 2010, many top flashlight manufactures have agreed to use the same standards (ANSI-FL-1) for measuring performance, so that consumers can make an apples-to-apples comparison between models. Browning is endorsing and participating in these new standards, for portable lighting.
About $74.99 - 79.99
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Streamlight introduces PT family of flashlightsNew C4 LED Tactical models are Light-Weight, Ultra-Compact and Offer Strobing
Streamlight�,
Inc., a leading manufacturer of high-
�These lights are the smallest and most lightweight in Streamlight�s line of handheld tactical products, yet are powered by a C4 LED to provide super brightness and long run times,� said Streamlight President Ray Sharrah. �The combination of their small size and power LED makes them among the brightest tactical personal lights for their size, useful for night-time situations, secondary lights on the beat, all-purpose lights for hunting or camping, for repairs or inspections on a shop or plant floor or for do-it-yourself applications.�
Each of the models offers a high and low intensity setting as well as a strobe function for disorienting suspects or as a signaling device. Featuring durable anodized aluminum construction, all of the lights also include a convenient push-button tactical tail switch for easy, one-handed operation of the momentary, variable intensity or strobe modes. The PT 2L is also gun mountable, attaching to long guns with Picatinny rails.
The ultra-compact lights require either one or two CR123A lithium batteries (the PT 1L and 2L) or one or two �AA� alkaline batteries (the PT 1AA and PT 2AA). All batteries are included.
All models feature a C4 LED that is that is impervious to shock |
with a 50,000 hour lifetime. The PT 1L delivers a light output of 110 lumens measured system output, 2,250 candela peak beam intensity and a continuous runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes on the high setting, while offering 12 lumens, 225 candela and 14 hours of runtime on the low setting. The PT 2L offers 180 lumens, 4,000 candela and 150 minutes of runtime on the high setting, while offering 10 lumens, 300 candela and 50 hours of runtime on the low setting. In strobe mode, the two lights offer 3 and 6 hours of runtime, respectively.
The PT 1AA provides 50 lumens, 1,450 candela and 1 hour and 45 minutes of runtime on high, and 6 lumens, 150 candela and 22 hours of runtime on low, while the PT 2AA provides 120 lumens, 3,000 candela and 110 minutes of runtime on high, and 14 lumens, 250 candela and 21 hours of runtime on low. Both the PT 1AA and PT 2AA offer 4 hours of continuous runtime on the strobe setting.
All four of the lights are extremely small and lightweight. The PT 1L weighs just 2 ounces and measures only 3.35 inches in length, while the PT 2L weighs 2.8 ounces and measures 4.68 inches. The PT 1AA measures 3.97 inches in length, and the PT 2AA is 5.97 inches long. The PT 1AA weighs 2.3 ounces, and the PT 2AA weighs 3.4 ounces.
The PT lights feature an internal polymer lining and shockproof switch housing, allowing for operation for under the most extreme conditions. Each light includes an impact-resistant glass lens, an anti-roll head, and comes with a removable pocket clip for attaching to a vest, belt or pocket.
The PT series of lights has been tested to the ANSI/NEMA F-1 Flashlight Standard, and feature an IPX7 rated design for waterproof operation to 1 meter for 30 minutes.
Available in black, the suggested retail prices for the lights are as follow: the PT 1L, $72.00; the PT 2L, $80.00; the PT 1AA, $68.00, and the PT 2AA, $70.00. Each light comes with Streamlight�s Limited Lifetime Warranty.
800-523-7488
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National
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New Bills introduced on Asian Carp controls Require Corps of Engineers to accelerate study/findings on hydrological separation Senators Stabenow (D-MI) and Durbin (D-IL), and Congressman Dave Camp (R-MI), on June 30 introduced a bill in the U.S. House and Senate that would greatly accelerate the move toward separation of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins, something we ALL want.
The bill�called the "Permanent Prevention of Asian Carp Act of 2010"- requires the U.S. Army Corps to accelerate a study that determines the feasibility AND the best means of achieving hydrological separation. The companion bills, introduced in both U.S. Chambers, have the same name "Permanent Prevention of Asian Carp Act of 2010". Co-sponsors already include. Neither bill has yet been assigned a number.
There are two main differences between this bill and the corps� existing authority. First, this bill significantly narrows the scope of the corps� work�it focuses on Chicago and it says �tell us how to separate� instead of directing the corps to study the full gamut of options throughout the region. Second, it establishes some tight deadlines�an initial report is due in six months with the final report due in a year and a half. Also, the Council on Environmental Quality (the White House), under this bill, would play a role in oversight.
This legislation is consistent with public statements made by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Great Lakes Commission, Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council and other conservation groups: that separation is the only viable end point and that it should be done with all haste.
The bills would require the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to determine the feasibility and the best means of achieving hydrological separation of the two watersheds. Hydrological separation is essential in blocking the movement of Asian carp and other invasive species between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins via a waterway system in the Chicago area.
�The bill introduced last week, if passed, would set into motion a process that we at the Great Lakes Fishery Commission have long supported�a process to permanently separate the Mississippi and Great Lakes basins,� said Commissioner Michael Hansen, a professor at the U. of Wisconsin at Stevens Point. �This bill directs the corps to tell us how to achieve
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separation. The bill also establishes some tight deadlines: an initial report is due in six months with the final report due in a year and a half.�
Hansen added: �Asian carp and other invasive species should not be allowed to enter the Great Lakes, harm the ecosystem, and threaten the $7 billion fishery. The only true solution to the invasive species corridor that is the Chicago Waterway System is to separate the two watersheds. This bill provides a path to achieving that goal sooner rather than later".
In the Senate, the legislation is also cosponsored by Carl Levin (D-MI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Al Franken (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Roland Burris (D-IL). In the House, the legislation is cosponsored by Michigan Representatives John Dingell, Vern Ehlers, Pete Hoekstra, Dale Kildee, Carolyn Kilpatrick, Sandy Levin, Thaddeus McCotter, Candice Miller, Gary Peters, Mike Rogers, Mark Schauer, Bart Stupak, and Fred Upton.
We in the conservation community need stimulate all members of Congress with a sense of urgency to pass these bills and get them to President Obama's desk ASAP.
�Last week�s discovery of an Asian Carp in Lake Calumet was a wake-up call that we need to do more and we need to do it quickly,� said Senator Dick Durbin. �We can�t wait while the Army Corps of Engineers and other agencies broadly examine methods of controlling invasive species; we must act now. Our bill creates an expedited study of the feasibility of separating the waterways
The study must begin within 30 days of the bill�s enactment, and the Army Corps must send a progress report to Congress and the President within six months and again in 12 months. The full study must be completed and given to Congress and the President 18 months after the bill is enacted. It will be monitored by the Council on Environmental Quality to ensure its thorough and timely completion.
The study will also address flooding threats, Chicago wastewater, water safety operations, and barge and recreational vessel traffic alternatives. It will examine other modes of transportation for the shipping industry and influence new engineering designs to move canal traffic from one body of water to the other without transferring invasive species. |
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Coast Guard and EPA send directive to BP on Oil Spill Waste Management Plan WASHINGTON - The U.S. Coast Guard, On July 1st with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency agreement, issued a directive to BP on how the company should manage recovered oil, contaminated materials and liquid and solid wastes recovered in cleanup operations from the BP oil spill. The U.S. Coast Guard, along with EPA, and in consultation with the states, will hold BP accountable for the implementation of the approved waste management plans and ensure that the directives are followed in the gulf coast states.
While the states of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida are overseeing BP�s waste management activities and conducting inspections, this action today is meant to compliment their activities by providing further oversight and imposing more specific requirements. Under the directive, EPA, in addition to sampling already being done by BP, will begin sampling the waste to help verify that the waste is being properly managed. Waste sampling to date has been done in compliance with EPA and state regulatory requirements.
The directive will do the following: ► Provide guidelines for community engagement activities and set transparency requirements on information regarding the proper management of liquid and solid wastes.
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► Require BP to give EPA and state agencies access to facilities or any location where waste is temporarily or permanently stored. Access includes allowing the agencies to perform any activities necessary, such as assessments, sampling or inspections. ► Require BP to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations and to ensure that all facilities where waste is located or placed have obtained all permits and approvals necessary under such laws and regulations. ► Finally, the directive will require BP to submit to EPA and the Coast Guard specific plans, waste reports and tracking systems for liquid and solid waste.
In addition to the directive, the Coast Guard, with the agreement of EPA and in consultation with the states, developed waste management plans outlining how recovered oil and waste generated as a result of the BP oil spill will be managed. EPA has posted to its Web site the latest versions of these waste management plans for Alabama, Mississippi, Florida and Louisiana that will be implemented under the directive.
More information on the directive: www.epa.gov/bpspill/waste.html#directive
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USFWS reopens Comment Period on Plan to Restrict Giant Invasive Snakes The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reopened the public comment period on a proposed rule to designate nine species of large constrictor snakes as injurious wildlife under the Lacey Act. The Service seeks comments from the public for an additional 30 days in order to ensure that any final action will be based on the best data available.
The action will be published in the Federal Register and open from July 1 - August 2, 2010. The 60-day comment period on the proposed rule initially closed on May 11, 2010. Reopening the comment period for 30 days will give the public time to provide additional biological, economic, and other data regarding the addition of these species to the list of injurious reptiles. Comments already submitted on the proposed rule need not be resubmitted and will be fully considered in the decision-making process.
Invasive species are one of the primary factors leading to the decline of native fish and wildlife populations in the United States. Keeping harmful species out of this country and out of the natural environment is the strongest tool we have to prevent significant future economic and ecological harm. "This rule is important, even though some of these snakes already exist in the Everglades, because it will prevent interstate transport of the identified species and help protect other vulnerable areas of the country" said Service Deputy Director Dan Ashe.
The nine species proposed for listing as injurious are the |
Burmese python (Indian python), northern and southern African pythons, reticulated python, boa constrictor, yellow anaconda, DeSchauensee�s anaconda, green anaconda and Beni anaconda. None of these species is native to the United States. Under the Lacey Act, the Department of the Interior is authorized to regulate the importation and interstate transport of wildlife species determined to be injurious to humans, the interests of agriculture, horticulture, forestry, or to wildlife or the wildlife resources of the United States.
The importation and introduction of nine large constrictor snakes into the natural ecosystems of the United States may pose a threat to these interests. An injurious wildlife listing would prohibit the importation into, or transportation between, States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or possession of the United States by any means, without a permit. Permits may be issued for scientific, medical, educational, or zoological purposes.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service recently funded a U.S. Geological Survey assessment, which examined the ecological risks associated with the establishment of the nine large constrictor species. All were shown to pose a high or medium risk to the health of ecosystems in the United States.
For Service information on injurious wildlife and how to send a comment, as well as links to partner agencies, visit: www.fws.gov/verobeach/index.cfm?method=activityhighlights&id=11.
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Regional
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Asian Carp threat Via the Wabash and Maumee Rivers not new DNR lists facts on Asian Carp in Wabash River Recent reports and discussions lack clarity regarding a potential connection between the Wabash and Maumee River basins and the potential for movement of Asian Carp from the Wabash watershed to the Maumee/Great Lakes watershed. To clear up these misunderstandings, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources offers the following information:
► The potential connection is not new, nor is understanding and knowledge of the potential connection new. Rather, attention is being focused on the potential connection due to collaborative efforts between Indiana DNR, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and others to better quantify the type of flooding conditions that should present the opportunity for movement of Asian Carp. This effort is part of the larger Interbasin Study that the Corps is conducting.
► The potential connection is due to natural geologic conditions dating back to glacial movement at the end of the Ice Age. There is a potential for movement of flood waters between the Wabash and Maumee basins in this area. Indiana DNR has long been aware of the potential flooding connection through study of floodway mapping. Under normal conditions, there is no direct physical connection between the Wabash and Maumee, but a natural backwash of flooded Maumee tributaries can spread across a broad floodplain near Fort Wayne and connect with tributaries of the Wabash.
► Indiana DNR has been working cooperatively with the Corps of Engineers, USGS, Allen County (Indiana) surveyor and others to study the nature of flooding events in the area to determine the types of conditions needed to allow passage of Asian Carp. Once that determination has been made, the
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DNR will quickly turn to planning efforts on preventive measures to deter Asian Carp movement into the Maumee River watershed.
► Asian Carp have been present in the Wabash River for at least 15 years. The mouth of the Wabash River feeds to the Ohio River, which in turn is a tributary to the Mississippi River. Asian Carp have been moving up these waterways since their accidental introduction in Arkansas in the 1970s. Indiana DNR has observed Asian Carp in spot locations on the Wabash River as far upstream as the dam that creates Roush Lake (Huntington County). The concrete and earth dam is 91-feet high and 6,500-feet wide, with a top width of 46 feet. Asian Carp would be unable to pass beyond this barrier to the upper stretches of the Wabash River.
► In late May of this year, a DNR fisheries biologist detected an Asian Carp spawning event (specifically silver carp) in the vicinity of Lafayette, roughly 100 miles downstream from the Roush Lake dam.
► The Wabash River flows southwest for 475 river miles from its headwaters in Mercer County (Ohio), including a 411-mile stretch from the Roush Lake dam to the Ohio River. That is the longest free-flowing stretch of any river east of the Mississippi River. The Wabash headwaters are approximately 60 land miles from the headwaters of the Maumee River in downtown Fort Wayne.
► The USGS has documented several occurrences of Asian Carp in Lake Erie dating back to at least 1995 (http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?SpeciesID=551. These isolated findings are believed to be from intentional releases with no reported evidence of a sustainable population. |
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Weekly Great Lakes Water Levels for July 2, 2010 Weather Conditions Scattered thunderstorms moved through the Great Lakes basin on Sunday followed by cooling temperatures to start the week. The weather has been dry the last couple of days with temperatures below seasonal averages. A high pressure air mass has moved into the area which is bringing the temperatures back to near seasonal averages for Friday. The weekend will be mostly sunny with high temperatures well into the 80's. There is a chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms to start the week, but temperatures are expected to remain warm. Although this past week has been relatively dry, each of the Great Lakes received much higher than average precipitation for the total month of June. Lake Level Conditions The Great Lakes water levels increased for the month of June due to a large amount of precipitation, but each one remains below the levels of last year at this time. Lakes Superior and Michigan‑Huron each rose 5 inches over the month of June yet remain 5 and 7 inches, respectively, below last year's levels. Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are up 4, 2, and 8 inches for the month yet remain 7, 6, and 7 inches below last year's levels, respectively. Over the next month, the water level of Lake Superior is expected to increase by 3 inches while Michigan-Huron is expected to stay near its current level. The water levels of Lakes St. Clair and Erie are each expected to decrease by 3 inches and Lake Ontario is expected to fall 2 inches. All of the Great Lakes levels are expected to remain below last year's levels over the next few months. |
Forecasted July Outflows/Channel Conditions The outflows from Lake Superior into the St. Mary's River, Lake Huron into the St. Clair River, and Lake St. Clair into the Detroit River are forecasted to be below average during the month. Near average outflow is expected from Lake Erie into the Niagara River. The flow in the St. Lawrence River is forecasted to be below average throughout the month of July. Alerts Users of the Great Lakes, connecting channels and St. Lawrence River should keep informed of current conditions before undertaking any activities that could be affected by changing water levels. Mariners should utilize navigation charts and refer to current water level readings.
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Illinois
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Fall Turkey Lottery Deadline July 6 The permit application deadline for the first lottery for the 2010 Illinois Fall Shotgun Wild Turkey season (Illinois residents only) is July 6. The season dates are Oct. 23-31. Hunters
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may apply online through DNR Direct at www.dnr.state.il.us(click on the Online Licenses button). For more information on the fall wild turkey season, go to the web site at www.dnr.state.il.us/admin/turkey.htm. |
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New Reporting System for Road Kill/Salvage Deer Illinois has new regulations for road kill and salvage deer (find details through the �To Report a Road Kill Deer� link on the IDNR website homepage at www.dnr.state.il.us).
Road Kill � Individuals who wish to claim a deer killed in a vehicle collision must report the possession of the road-kill deer to the IDNR. Road-kill deer may only be claimed by those individuals who are residents of Illinois, are not delinquent in child support payments, and do not have their wildlife privileges suspended in any state. Individuals claiming road-kill deer must report the possession within 24 hours using the new online IDNR Road Kill Deer Reporting Form, which is found through this link on the IDNR website: http://dnr.state.il.us/law3/images/Road_kill.pdf. Possession |
may also be reported to the IDNR by phoning 217/782-6431 no later than 4:30 p.m. on the next business day. Individuals involved in deer-vehicle accidents who do not want to take possession of the deer are not required to file a report with the IDNR.
Salvage � Any individual finding a dead or injured deer (other than those killed in a vehicle collision or legally taken by hunting methods) may not move, transport, or take possession of the deer or deer parts until making a salvage deer report to and obtaining permission from an IDNR Conservation Police officer or an IDNR Regional Law Enforcement office. Contact information is available at this link: http://dnr.state.il.us/law3/images/Road_kill.pdf. |
Indiana
Bass over-abundant in two Noble County lakesCOLUMBIA CITY � The Indiana DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife may seek changes in largemouth bass fishing regulations at two Noble County lakes in hopes of culling high numbers of the popular sportfish to increase their growth and size.
Based on sampling conducted last year, DFW biologists say Big and Crane lakes contain three times the normal number of bass found in northern Indiana natural lakes. As a result, bass grow slowly and few bass large enough to be taken home by anglers are present. Currently all angler-caught bass less than 14 inches long must be released. The DFW imposed the 14-inch minimum size limit at nearly all natural lakes in 1998 to increase bass numbers. The limit has apparently been overly protective at some lakes.
�We�ve seen huge increases in bass numbers at Big and Crane lakes as a result of the size limit,� said Jed Pearson, the DFW biologist who keeps tabs on bass populations throughout the region. �Coupled with angler promotion of catch-and-release fishing, some lakes now have more bass than they can support.�
Biologists captured 303 adult bass per hour of sampling at Big Lake and 294 per hour at Crane Lake. The average catch rate at most natural lakes is 96 per hour. Only 2 percent of the bass captured at Big and 5 percent of the bass captured at Crane were of legal size.
According to Pearson, changes in bass fishing regulations may be worth considering at Big and Crane lakes to
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encourage anglers to catch and keep small bass. The theory is that once many of the small bass are removed, those that remain should then grow larger. Once balance in the bass populations is restored, the 14-inch limit could then be re-instated.
Any changes in bass fishing rules must first be approved by the Natural Resources Commission. That involves an extensive process to assure any change will achieve the desired results and to include public hearing, so no changes are likely to be made this year.
�Before we take a proposal to the Commission we need to iron out the details of what may be needed,� said Pearson. �We also want to make sure the public is willing to accept the change and conservation officers will be able to enforce it.�
The DFW is considering three options. All three rely on what Pearson called a �reverse slot limit.� �Instead of a 14-inch minimum size limit, anglers may be allowed to keep only 10- to 14-inch bass,� Pearson said. �We could also relax the daily catch limit of five for bass that size. Or we could allow some combination of 10- to 14-inch bass and bass over 14 inches.�
If a change is eventually made, the DFW plans to promote it widely to encourage anglers to fish the two lakes and take home bass. A change could be linked to fishing derbies and other events designed to encourage fishing, especially among youngsters. �All of this is in the talking phase right now,� Pearson said. �If and when a change is made, we will also want to closely monitor the results.� |
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Reserved-hunt applications available online starting July 1
Online
applications for the following reserved hunts will be available July 1,
2010, at
http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/5834.htm.
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� For more information, Kevin Hoffman, (317) 234-5904, [email protected]
Other hunts include: Military/Refuge Firearm Deer Draw Hunt Military/Refuge Archery Deer Draw Hunt Pheasant Draw Hunt State Park Early Deer Reduction Draw Hunt State Park Late Deer Reduction Draw Hunt
More information at http://www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild/5834.htm |
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Chain O'Lakes to host 24-hour "Boat Mania," July 9-10
During the weekend of
July 9 and 10, Chain O�Lakes State Park will host a 24-hour Boat Mania with
boat-themed activities. As the sun sets, guests can hop in their boat or rent one (canoes $5/hour, kayaks $8/hour) and paddle to the floating campfire. Guests should bring their own marshmallows to roast around the fire. |
The early boater gets the bird on Saturday morning at 7:30 as boaters join a naturalist to look for birds across Sand Lake and up one of the channels. Both novice and experienced bird watchers are encouraged to join. The excursion will take off from Sand Lake boat rental. Rentals are available.
At 9:30 a.m. boat races will be held for all ages and ability levels. Guests can race a canoe, a kayak and a rowboat around the course. Individual combined times compete for �Golden Paddler� awards. Participants must register at Sand Lake boat rental and use its assigned boats. Normal gate fees of $5 per in-state vehicle and $7 per out-of-state vehicle apply. |
Michigan
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Mullett Lake and Little Bay de Noc get Walleye stocking assistance from tribes
Mullet Lake walleye received
a welcome boost earlier this week with the stocking of nearly 102,000
summer fingerlings, while Little Bay de Noc received 41,000 fingerlings,
according to the Department of Natural Resources.
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walleye fingerlings to the DNRE for stocking in Little Bay de Noc, near Rapid River in the Upper Peninsula.
�We are building a successful
history of cooperative Great Lakes walleye stocking through the sharing
of eggs, fry, fingerlings and technology,� said ITFAP Director Tom
Gorenflo. �Last year, we were able to provide surplus summer fingerlings
to the DNRE for stocking in Bay de Noc, while this year, the DNRE
provided us with surplus walleye fry after we experience high mortality
in one of our hatcheries.
Providing walleye to the
state for stocking in inland waters is new for the tribes.
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Port Crescent State Park hosts Vintage Camper Show July 8-11 Vintage travel-trailer enthusiasts are bringing the glory days of "trailering" to Port Crescent State Park in Huron County as it hosts its second "GO-Get Outdoors" Vintage Camper Show, which begins on Thursday, July 8, and runs through Sunday, July 11. Campers participating in this show will open up their vintage trailers for tours. Other activities will include a potluck for campers and a dance with music provided by The Bill Denbrock Big Band, a 15-piece band dedicated to keeping alive the Big Band sound with songs from Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Glenn Miller and many more.
The big recreational vehicles (RVs) often seen on Michigan highways have a venerable heritage of trailer travels in the United States, and the Tin Can Tourists is a group keeping this heritage alive. The original Tin Canners blossomed about 1920, in the early days of auto travel from the North to Florida. The group took its name from the campers' habit of bringing along tin-can cuisine. Members sometimes fastened empty cans to the front of their Tin Lizzies to announce themselves to kindred spirits.
Members travel with rigs that include Shasta, Scotty, Airstream, Argosy, Helite, Travco, Newell, Yellowstone, Fan and Teardrop. Forrest Bone, a retired high school teacher who now splits his time between Florida and Michigan, renewed the Tin Can Tourists in 1998 as a rallying group for fans of antique travel trailers. Owners and fans of vintage travel trailers are invited to join the group, which is sponsoring the event at Port Crescent.
Port Crescent State Park is located at 1775 Port Austin Road
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near Port Austin. For more information about this event, the park, accessibility or persons needing accommodations to attend this event, contact the park supervisor at 989-738-8663 (TTY/TDD711 Michigan Relay Center for the hearing impaired) or visit www.michigan.gov/portcrescent.
"GO-Get Outdoors" is a series of continuous, special events designed to encourage all people, especially families, to take advantage of the many outdoor recreational opportunities that are available in this great state. For a list of events taking place at Michigan state parks, recreation areas and boating facilities, visit the Get Outdoors Calendar at www.michigan.gov/gogetoutdoors.
All motor vehicles entering a state park or recreation area must display a 2010 Motor Vehicle Permit, available for purchase at the park entrance or online through the Michigan E-Store at www.michigan.gov/estore. Cost is $24 for a resident annual and $6 for a resident daily. A non-resident annual is $29 and a non-resident daily is $8.
Effective Oct. 1, 2010, the Recreation Passport will be available to Michigan residents for $10 per registered vehicle, or $5 per registered motorcycle. This will replace the resident annual state park and boating access site permits. By checking "Yes" on their vehicle registration form, Michigan residents will realize a 58 percent savings in exchange for unlimited access to all Michigan state parks and boating access sites. This money will also help support Michigan state parks, boating access sites, state forests and local parks. For more information about the Recreation Passport, visit www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport.
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Elk, Bear Hunting Opportunities for Youths, Ailing Adults The Michigan DNRE is reminding hunters that individuals who are selected for an elk or bear hunting license may donate their drawing success to a youth or to a hunter with an advanced illness. The DNRE maintains a waiting list of eligible hunters who are interested in participating in a donated hunt. To register online for the waiting list, visit the DNRE website at www.michigan.gov/huntdrawings by July 1.
To be eligible for a donated hunt, youths must be unsuccessful applicants for 2010 bear or elk licenses. Youths |
must be between 10 and 16 years of age to hunt bear, 12 and 16 to hunt elk.
Individuals with advanced illnesses, as defined by the Public Health Code, need not have applied for the licenses to be eligible to receive the transferred license rights. However, they must complete the Physician Certification of Advanced Illness form, available at www.michigan.gov/huntdrawings.
After July 1, eligible individuals may contact the DNRE Wildlife Division at 517-241-1971 to see if additional opportunities exist. |
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Bear License Drawing Results Posted Leftover Licenses on Sale in July Leftover bear hunting licenses for 2010 season will be available for purchase in July, according to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment. Two bear hunts - the third hunt in the Bergland Unit and the third hunt in the Carney Unit -- were under-subscribed, resulting in 569 leftover licenses. These licenses will be sold online or at any license agent on a first-come, first-served basis according to the following criteria:
► Holders of Lifetime Comprehensive Licenses may purchase a leftover license beginning at 10 a.m. Monday, July, 12;
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► Unsuccessful applicants may purchase a leftover license beginning at 10 a.m. Monday, July 19; and ► Any hunter may purchase a leftover license beginning at 10 a.m. Monday, July 26, including those who did not apply.
Hunters are reminded that their preference points will reset to zero if they purchase a leftover license, except for Lifetime Comprehensive License holders.
Results of the drawing for 2010 bear hunting licenses have been posted on the Department of Natural Resources and Environment�s website at www.michigan.gov/huntdrawings. Also, as a reminder, applicants are no longer notified by mail. |
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DNRE Offers Handgun Class for Women on July 19 in Utica The Michigan DNRE is offering an Introduction to Handgun Shooting class through the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program. The class will take place at the Detroit Sportsmen�s Congress in Utica on Monday, July 19, from 7 to 10 p.m.
The class is designed especially for women ages 18 and over to learn basic handgun shooting skills from certified instructors in a safe and comfortable environment. Participants will learn firearm safety, fundamentals of pistol shooting, ammunition basics, tips on purchasing a handgun. |
Several different firearms will be set up for handling under certified instructor supervision.
Participants will visit the on-site shooting range to shoot .22-caliber handguns and be provided with eye and ear protection. Register early; class sizes are limited. A $30 fee is due at the time of registration.
Detroit Sportsmen�s Congress is located at 49800 Dequindre Rd. in Utica. For registration forms and information on this and other BOW events, visit www.michigan.gov/bow, email [email protected] or call 517-241-2225. |
New York
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NY DEC Seeks Public's Input On Baitfish Transport Regulations New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced that DEC will seek public input on the current ban on transporting uncertified baitfish.
The ban was established in 2007 after an outbreak of viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) in the Great Lakes system in 2005. VHS is a disease that causes internal bleeding and sometimes death in certain fish when they are stressed in cooler temperatures. While VHS was the primary concern, eight other pathogens also were addressed when the rules were established.
The current regulations ban "the overland (motorized) transport of personally collected baitfish (baitfish that are uncertified as far as not tested for fish diseases)." This is the only part of the state's fish-health regulations that DEC is seeking comment on at this time.
DEC has slated a series of public meetings across the state (schedule attached). For two of the meeting dates, there will be live video feed at multiple locations. In addition, members of the public may participate by web conference. To learn how to use a home computer to participate, visit http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/66191.html for more information.
In addition to public meetings, written and online comments will be accepted until Sept. 10, 2010. Written comments should be submitted to Shaun Keeler, NYSDEC, Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233 or e-mailed to [email protected]
Additional background information about the overland transport regulation and about the upcoming meetings is available on DEC's website at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/66191.html
Public Meeting Schedule:
July 13, 2010 - 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Buffalo Area; Sheridan Parkside Community Center 169 Sheridan Parkside Drive Tonawanda, NY 14150 716-851-7010
July 21, 2010 - 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Albany Area; NYSDEC Headquarters |
Public Assembly Room 129A&B 625 Broadway Albany, NY 12233 518-402-8044
Thousand Island Area (Live video feed) NYSDEC Region 6 Headquarters 317 Washington Street Watertown, NY 13601 315-785-2252
Syracuse Area (Live video feed) NYSDEC Region 7 Headquarters 615 Erie Boulevard W. Syracuse, NY 13204 315-426-7413
Rochester Area (Live video feed) NYSDEC Region 8 Headquarters 6274 Avon-Lima Rd. (Rtes. 5 and 20) Avon, NY 14414-9519 585-226-5324
NYSDEC Region 8 Bath Sub-Office (Live video feed) 7291 Coon Road Bath, NY 14810 585-226-5324
July 28, 2010 - 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Albany Area; NYSDEC Headquarters Public Assembly Room 129A&B 625 Broadway Albany, NY 12233 518-402-8044
Catskill Area NYSDEC Region 3 Headquarters (Live video feed) 21 South Putt Corners Road New Paltz, NY 12561 845-256-3018
Adirondack Area NYSDEC Region 5 Headquarters (Live video feed) 1115 NYS Rte. 86 Ray Brook, NY 12977 518-897-1211 |
Ohio
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Potential new Steelhead record Measures 38" and weighs 21.3 pounds
AVON POINT Ohio-- A state
record that has stood for 14 years
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Brooks caught a steelhead measuring 38" h and weighing 21.3 lbs. The fish was weighed on a certified scale and checked by the Division of Wildlife. The next step to the state record is to have the catch verified by the Outdoor Writers of Ohio. The current record holder weighed in at 20.83 pounds. The fish was caught in 1995 near the same spot off Avon Point. |
Wisconsin
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DNR to host Winnebago walleye mgmt meetings Aim is to collect input for next 20 year management plan GREEN BAY � The Winnebago System walleye population and its world class walleye fishery are the topic of four public meetings in northeastern Wisconsin in July and August as the state starts updating its plan for managing both.
�We�ve worked closely with the public to improve the walleye fishery on the Winnebago System for the last 20 years, and the result has been a tremendous success,� says Kendall Kamke, a Department of Natural Resources senior fisheries biologist in Oshkosh.
�But it is time to take a thorough look with the public at the progress we have made in understanding and managing our walleye population and fishery and look ahead to the next 20 years.�
So DNR will be holding four meetings in July and August to provide people information about the status of the Winnebago System walleye population, fishery, and management program and to collect public input to update the Winnebago Walleye Management Plan.
The Winnebago System, which includes lakes Winnebago, Butte des Morts, Winneconne and Poygan, and the connected
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rivers upstream, the upper Fox and the Wolf, is known nationally for its outstanding walleye fishery. A 2007 study by the UW Extension and DNR showed that anglers annually spend up to 2 million hours on the Winnebago System pursing primarily walleye, as well as other gamefish in a fishery that generates a total economic impact of $234 million annually and 4,300 jobs.
Topics to be discussed at the meetings include walleye population and harvest estimates, adult walleye size and age distributions by sex from springs 1989-2010, the impact of spring water flows and levels on walleye recruitment, the walleyes� movement and migrational patterns, and the assessment techniques DNR uses to develop population estimates.
The meetings are set for the following dates and locations: ● July 13, Shiocton, 7 p.m., River Rail, N5547 River St ● August 10, Menasha, 7 p.m., Germania Hall, 320 Chute St ● August 11, Quinney, 7 p.m., Quinney Fishing Club, Quinney Rd ● August 12, Fond du Lac, 7 p.m., Marghael�s Hall, N7688 Van Dyne Rd
For more info: Kendall Kamke (920) 424-7880 |
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Anglers press for closure of trap net fishing on zone 3 Commercial gear blamed fatal boat accident Wisconsin Great Lakes Sport Fishermen are petitioning the state's Dept of Natural Resources for an Emergency Order to close all trap net fishing in Lake Michigan Zone 3, for months of June, July and August, the high season of recreational fishing in the area. Wisconsin anglers began circulating a petition to force the closure at the NEW/GLSF Derby over the 4th of July weekend.
This action is partly in response to the tragedy that occurred on Friday, June 25 on Lake Michigan just three miles East of Sheboygan, and which resulted in the untimely death of Charles Koenig of Cleveland, WI. "Entanglement of sport fishing gear in commercial whitefish trap nets set in Lake Michigan on June 25 was directly responsible for this tragedy" say Wisconsin Great Lakes Sport Fishermen.
While all information regarding the incident is very sparce due to to the ongoing investigation, anglers and facts state it is fairly certain the incident involved entanglement with commercial trap net gear causing the 20' sport fishing boat to overturn and one man of the three man crew, Charles Koenig, lost his life. |
There has been a running battle over commercial trap net issues for over twenty years. Back in 1988 FH-40-88 suggested a proposed closure of June 1,but the date was later changed to a June 14th fishing closure, and included a clause that nets could be tied off and not removed from the water until June 28th. In 1989 by WDNR order, commercial whitefish trap net fishing was banned in ALL of Zone 3 from June 1 to August 31 due to �User Conflict and Safety Issues�.
Later, in 1995 Trap Net Fishing in zone 3 was extended to June 28 and all nets still had to be out of the water by that date. With the amendment of FH 40-88 the June 28 fishing closure remained in effect until 2004 when the Summer Trapnet Season in zone 3 was extended to include the months of July and August, in two restricted areas, one at Sheboygan and the other at Manitowoc and Two Rivers, In 2005 over tremendous opposition from Sport Fishermen, by DNR Board Order FH-57-04 the Two Rivers/ Manitowoc area was moved from North of Two Rivers to an area directly between Two Rivers and Manitowoc and has remained so to the present time.
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(Click on title or URL to read full article)
Southland firms blast Asian carp legislation
Regional news: Carp on move in Wabash River
Great Lakes lawmakers act to stop Asian carp
Ehlers, Hoekstra urge Obama to protect Great Lakes from Asian
carp
Key factor in Asian carp battle: Can they survive in rivers?
Milwaukee River PCB cleanup delayed A long-anticipated cleanup of PCBs in the Milwaukee River has been pushed back to next year. Officials had originally hoped to begin work this year but are still determining how, exactly, to remove about two tons of the hazardous industrial waste from about 100,000 cubic ft of sediment.
St. Lawrence River sinking to new levels Canadian and United States officials have agreed to release more water from Lake Ontario through the dam in Cornwall. Hundreds of thousands of cubic feet per second is already being drawn from Lake Ontario and the flow through the Cornwall dam could be more than doubled by
Funds ok�d to build two lake research vessels Congress has agreed to fund construction of two large Great Lakes research vessels for the U.S. Geological Survey�s Great Lakes Science Center at a combined cost of $8.2 million, one of which is to be permanently stationed at the Lake Erie Biological Station the USGS operates here.
Asian Carp forces troubleshooters to dream big As concerns mount about Asian carp, momentum is building to re-engineer Chicago's waterways to allow for the passage of boats and ships, but not harmful invasive species. Calling it a Burnham Plan for the new millennium, lawmakers and environmental leaders from around the Great Lakes are talking about what the proposed water system might look like, how it could function, and what it would cost.
Kohl, Feinberg ask for Obama�s help in Asian Carp battle Federal agents committed to protecting Lake Michigan from an Asian carp invasion have been saying for months they would not be 100% convinced they have an imminent problem until they actually found a carp above the electric barrier. Well, now they've got a problem - and the attention of the region's most powerful politicians.
Wisconsin
DNR educates boaters on invasive species laws
COMMENTARY: We can't make mistake in lake |
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